About 3,000 resident doctors and 1,000 interns of medical college hospitals across the state went on an indefinite strike from Thursday.
About 3,000 resident doctors and 1,000 interns of medical college hospitals across the state went on an indefinite strike from Thursday, demanding higher stipends. As a result, healthcare services, including emergency medical services, were disrupted at these hospitals.
Residents and interns are demanding stipend at par with Delhi and Mumbai hospitals and better work timings.
"For the last two years, the state government has been delaying a decision on our demand for one or the other reason. In 2008, the state government promised to fulfill the demand after election was over and later a decision was postponed till completion of LS elections. But even now, we have received no assurance about hike in stipend and so were forced to go on an indefinite strike," Hemant Patel, a member of Junior Resident Doctor Association in Surat, said.
The members of Gujarat Association of Resident Doctors (GARD), formed by post-graduate (PG) medical students, said in Ahmedabad that they would not call off the strike unless their demands are accepted. "We never wanted patients to suffer, but were left with no other option by the government," they said.
In Ahmedabad, about 700 resident doctors and 400 interns of the Civil Hospital and VS Hospital went on strike. In the Civil Hospital, patients were seen running from pillar to post for attention, but to little avail. However, hospital officials claimed that the situation was under control and they were taking care of patients as required.
Medical superintendent of the Civil Hospital, Dr MM Anchalia, said, "We have already requisitioned 33 medical officers and 30 tutors from different civil hospitals of the state. We have also requested the health department to provide 22 more medical officers, who are likely to join on Friday."
In Surat, on Thursday, 160 resident doctors and 100 interns of the New Civil Hospital went on strike, which completely hampered working of the hospital. The worst problem was faced by serious patients and patients coming through 108 services as doctors on emergency duty had also joined the strike.
To bring things under control, the hospital administration engaged 13 doctors from outside. With little chance of strike getting over soon, the administration has geared up to call more doctors from outside.
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