Demanding implementation of Uttarakhand Healthcare Establishments Act in place of Clinical Establishments Act, the private medical practitioners remained on strike on Friday. The doctors have threatened an indefinite strike which, they said, would continue till their demand is met. The patients faced problems with the private hospitals, nursing homes and clinics remaining shuttered in response to the shutdown call.
The doctors attached to the private medical facilities alleged that they have been forced to take recourse to the shutdown because of the State Government rolling out false assurances. Speaking to The Pioneer, the former district president of Indian Medical Association said, “The Government is not serious about resolving the CEA-related matter. This despite the fact that the Chief Minister, Trivendra Singh Rawat, himself committed amendment in the CEA. We regret the inconvenience caused to all the patients. But this is the only option we are left with.”
He further said that the State Government has been sleeping over the matter for long. “The Act came into force in 2010.
The successive Governments assured of addressing our problems. This time again, the same happened. The Government continues to drag its feet. Things have turned rather worse as the district magistrate has ordered sealing of establishments not yet registered under CEA,” he added.