Health and medical services were crippled across the state with government doctors going on strike and resident doctors at the medical college hospitals joining them. The state government toughened its stand on medical strikes and employed doctors provided by the Army, BSF, railways and Central government departments.
The strike claimed two dozen lives in the state. It was the fourth day of strike on Saturday when the government hospitals and health centres witnessed teary-eyed patients and their family members crying for help. The doctors have been demanding a pay hike while the state government clarified that it had already promised to do so.
“We accepted their demands but the doctors’ body is insisting to provide such pay hike since they joined the services. It is matter of only 264 doctors and they incited other doctors for the strike,” said a government officer.
The striking 5,000 doctors sent their resignations and continued their protest.
The state government has invoked Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and 361 striking doctors have been suspended
Chief minister Ashok Gehlot made an appeal to the protesting doctors to resume their work and help the needy patients. Mr Gehlot reviewed the situation at the Cabinet meeting on Saturday at secretariat in Jaipur and directed to sought help from the private hospitals.
The government has authorised 44 private hospitals to provide medical help to the people reaching the government hospitals.
The government had recruited over 500 new doctors and indicated that the drive to recruit more new doctors was going on.
“The 1,000 vacant posts will be filled soon,” said a senior health official here.
While people here are losing their patience, one doctor was attacked in Bilara town of Jodhpur. The agitating people staged protest at half-a-dozen places and appealed the striking doctors to resume the work