On the assurance of the Chief Minister, the resident doctors of IGMC Shimla ended the strike.
Jagran correspondent, Shimla. The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC), Shimla, has called off the indefinite strike after the assurance of Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu. RDA said that this decision has been taken after the Chief Minister has assured to initiate a detailed inquiry into the dismissal of Dr. Raghav Narula and cancel the dismissal order. RDA called it a step taken in public interest. Patients will get relief from the start of OPD from Monday.
RDA IGMC Shimla President Dr. Sohil Sharma, General Secretary Dr. Adarsh Sharma and Vice President Dr. Madhup Arora said in a statement issued on Sunday that the association will keep an eye on the investigation process until the dismissal order of Dr. Raghav is canceled. The future strategy will be chalked out in a meeting on January 3. RDA has expressed gratitude to the resident doctors of the state and the country.
The association also thanked HPMOA, SEMDICOT, State Medical Teachers Association and all other organizations who supported the RDA. RDA officials say that their struggle is not for any particular person, but for justice, transparency and to protect the dignity of doctors. If the investigation process is not fair or action is not taken as per assurance, then the option of agitation will remain open in future. RDA expressed hope for a speedy and just resolution of the matter.
On December 24, a video of a fight between a doctor and a patient in IGMC Shimla had surfaced. The hospital administration suspended Dr. Raghav Narula. Dr. Raghav was dismissed on 25 December. Despite the CM's assurance of re-investigation, a mass holiday was observed on 26th December in protest against the dismissal. Doctors associated with Himachal Pradesh Medical Officers Association (HPMOA) also remained on mass leave.
On 27 December, RDA, HPMOA and State Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers (SEMDICOT) went on strike. Routine services remained closed. Due to this, OPD, elective operations and regular services were disrupted in many hospitals of the state including IGMC, due to which the patients had to suffer. However, emergency services were continued.
Some members are opposing the withdrawal of strike
Some members of the RDA still do not agree with the decision to call off the strike. They say that they will not back down from their demands until the order of Dr. Raghav's dismissal is withdrawn. They argue that the government has taken unilateral action and did not listen to the doctors seriously.
Doctors raised slogans till late night in IGMC campus on this issue. Demanded from the government that the dismissal of Dr. Raghav should be immediately withdrawn, and concrete policies and security protocols should be implemented in all the hospitals of the state for the safety of doctors.
There was no need to go on strike after assurance: CM
After returning from Delhi on Sunday, Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu had said that if the doctors want a solution through talks, then they will have to end the strike and join duty. He will talk to the doctors only after calling off the strike. Despite the doctors being assured of re-examination, there was no need to go on strike. It is the responsibility of the government to provide security to doctors. The government is with the 75 lakh people of the state. Doctors and patients are all my family members. The Chief Minister said, people belonging to poor families come for treatment in medical colleges and government hospitals. If the doctor talks to them lovingly, then 50 percent of them get cured anyway.
The Chief Minister said, it is not the intention of the government to ruin anyone's career. After this incident the doctor came to meet him. Told them that there would be a meeting at 5 o'clock on 27th December or 28th. On the request of senior doctors of IGMC, they met on the same day and assured that the matter will be re-investigated. Despite this the doctors went on strike. The government reviews its decision several times.
The Chief Minister said, the situation is different in the IGMC case. Many times the condition of the patient is not sufficient to stand. The doctor's behavior here was not appropriate. If he wanted, he could have informed the senior doctor, but he raised his hand by not doing so which is wrong. Sukhu said, when he was an MLA, he had gone to IGMC to meet a patient. Saw there the senior resident was giving 48 hours duty.
After becoming CM, the duty was reduced from 48 to 12 hours so that he remains stress free. Earlier he used to get 65 thousand stipend, the government increased it to 1 lakh rupees. This demand was not made by the doctors, but the government took the decision at its own level so that they remain boat-free. On the money coming from the Centre, the Chief Minister said that the amount was due for 2023 which has now arrived. The announcement of Rs 1500 crore made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi should also be released.