Rajasthan: Resident doctors go on strike, Health minister threatens consequences

Jaipur: Medical services at all six government college hospitals in Rajasthan were affected as nearly 4,000 resident doctors went on strike in protest against the decision to send their answer scripts for evaluation to other states.

The strike began yesterday, hitting the functioning of hospitals associated with the colleges.

This has further prompted the state government to announce stern action against them.Health Minister Rajendra Rathore held a meeting with officials and directed them to terminate the admission in PG of those in-service resident doctors who are on strike and give admission to the students in waiting list against their seats.

"This is a stubborn attitude of the resident doctors and will not be tolerated. Therefore appropriate action against them is being taken," the minister told reporters here.

The resident doctors who are doing their PG and are in government service will have to face action, he said.

"Admission in PG of such in-service doctors in all six government medical colleges will be terminated and they will be called at the medical and health directorate. Admission would be given to students in waiting list in the first year of PG against the termination of such resident doctors", he said.

Similarly, Rathore also gave directions to give posting within three days to more than 1,200 newly-appointed doctors to help tide over the crisis.

He also directed officials to make alternative arrangements to normalise the situation in the hospitals.

Reason behind the strike:

The residents Doctors are opposing the governments move, as the Government has decided to send the Answer scripts of PG students out of the state for evaluation.

The students are not happy with the Government move has as they have the fear that evaluation outside the state would lead to the deficiencies.

Speaking on the issue, Vice President of Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors, Akash Mathur, said the students should have been informed earlier about the government's decision to send answer sheets to other states for evaluation.

"Only few days are left for the examination and the authorities should have informed us at least six months ago so that we could prepare accordingly. Instead of sending copies to other states, the government should improve the academic standards," he said.

Principal Secretary Medical Education Mukesh Sharma said that it was necessary to follow the guidelines of the Medical Council of India with regard to examination.