Bhopal: Doctors of government hospitals have started an indefinite strike from Wednesday demanding basic amenities for their colleagues posted in rural areas of Madhya Pradesh and ending alleged bureaucratic interference. At the same time, the Bhopal administration claims that the services are running smoothly with the help of private hospitals and private doctors.
It may be noted that after talks with the government failed, various medical associations under the banner of the Madhya Pradesh Government Autonomous Doctors Federation started this strike. The federation claims that around 13,000 doctors are participating in the strike. In February too, doctors had staged a similar protest.
Officials said that Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan held a meeting with the District Magistrates and Commissioners on Tuesday night to ensure that health services continue to run smoothly after the announcement of the strike and gave them all instructions. According to the statement issued after the meeting, Chouhan said, “Health services come under essential services and should not be hampered.
Indirectly warning the striking doctors, he said, “Going on strike is unethical, there is a provision for action against it. Make necessary arrangements in medical colleges and hospitals and take services of PG doctors etc. Chouhan said in the meeting that to ensure that the health services do not get disrupted, keep a constant dialogue with the private nursing homes. Ensure the arrangement of an adequate number of ambulances. The Chief Minister said, “The government will bear the cost of treatment in private hospitals under the Ayushman Yojana.
In the provincial capital Bhopal district, the administration has called doctors from private hospitals to run government hospitals. Talking to reporters at the city’s largest government Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal District Magistrate Ashish Singh said, “150 doctors from private hospitals have been called here and they are serving in the out-patient department (OPD) and wards.”
He informed me that at present 672 patients are admitted to the hospital and all the facilities there are running smoothly. “We have booked 1,500 beds in two private hospitals. Patients being transferred from the hospital or admitted through a government ambulance will be treated free of cost in these private hospitals.
Singh claimed that the patient was not facing any problems. Divisional Commissioner of Bhopal division Mal Singh Bhaydia said that seriously ill patients are being sent to big private hospitals. An office-bearer of the Madhya Pradesh Government Autonomous Doctors Federation, which is leading the protest, said, “We had called off our agitation on February 17 on the assurance given by the Minister and the Chief Minister. But since then till now our demands have not been considered.
“We are fighting this battle for the doctors who are serving in rural areas. These doctors work 7 days a week without any weekly off. They do not even have facilities like housing and schools for their children.” He said that the demands of the agitating doctors would not put any financial burden on the state.
On the alleged bureaucratic interference in the health department, the official said, “It seems that the administrative officials have taken our (health) department hostage. He said that the Chief Minister should intervene to get the health department out of the clutches of the administrative officials.
