Amid a surge in Corona cases and deaths, resident doctors of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Hospital, Chhattisgarh's biggest, on Tuesday launched a strike in Raipur in support of nine demands.
Junior Doctors Association President Dr Indresh Yadav said the resident doctors have been seeking quality PPE kits, N-95 masks and gloves for Corona duty but the administration was not responding.
Yadav alleged that the doctors are being forced to wear poor quality PPE kits, masks and surgical gloves due to which many colleagues have been infected with Covid. Such doctors are being forced to take unpaid leave.
Other demands include induction of doctors posted in remote areas in Covid duty, extension of rural service contract for one year, increase in scholarship, proper incentive for Covid Warriors, MD, MS, Medical Diploma examinations within the stipulated period and same stipend for MD, MS, Medical Diploma holders in rural service.
The striking doctors boycotted the Out Patient Department (OPD) duty barring Covid and emergency services with immediate effect, Yadav said.
If the demands are not met, the association will stop the emergency services from April 15 and, if needed, also give up the Covid duty on April 18 from 8 am, he said.
The Association handed over a memorandum to the Dean of Pt Jawahar Lal Nehru Memorial Medical College (JNMC) Dr Vishnu Dutt, who assured the doctors that necessary steps will be taken at the earliest.
