RDA SKIMS suspend strike, welcomes appointment of interim doctor

Srinagar: The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of S K Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) suspended strike after four days, demanding reinstatement of the Director of the institute.

The government on last Saturday attached Dr A G Ahangar with the General Administration Department (GAD) and ordered the suspension of three senior faculty members after they were found doing private practice in a sting operation despite ban by the government.

The RDA demanding reinstatement of Dr Ahangar went on strike, badly affecting patient care in the SKIMS for the past four days.

Spokesman of the RDA said following the sequence of events which have surfaced in regard to current situation, the RDA SKIMS decided to suspend the agitation.
He said the idea of resident’s agitation was to highlight the gross violation of norms, lack of proper trial & to uphold the dignity of the highest chair of medical fraternity in J&K.

“We believe we said and we stood for what people could not. We have represented the shortcomings via our agitation”, a statement issued by the RDA spokesman said.
He said the Court of law also upheld our sentiments by staying the order of attachment of Director SKIMS which is a moral victory for us and the result of our strike forced an emergency meeting of Governing Body Meet.

He said the GBM has asked for an enquiry to investigate the matter. Governing Body also appointed an interim Director from the SKIMS Medical Fraternity, rather than a bureaucrat, which is a very welcome step. With the matter now being entirely sub-judice & a pending enquiry and in the greater interest of patient care we are suspending our strike.

“We expect a time bound, honest and earnest findings from the enquiry as per law of the land. We hope justice prevails and justice triumphs”, he said.

The issue was also raised in the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council by opposition.

Prof (Dr) Altaf Kirmani, Dean & Head, Department of General Surgery; Dr Mushtaq Ahmad Wani, Head, Department of Neurology and Dr Wajid Ali, Head, Department of Neonatology, SKIMS, Soura were placed under suspension for violating norms of not practicing while serving at SKIMS.