Doctors stage demo, demand police protection

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Even as the strike by the junior doctors at the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital entered the third day, the protest gained momentum as all the junior doctors at the government medical college hospitals across the state expressed support and struck work.

With half the doctors taking part in the strike, operations at the government hospitals in the state went into cold limbo, leaving patients at lurch.

The doctors staged demonstrations demanding proper police protection at hospitals from possible attacks from attendants or angry relatives of the patients.
The strike began at the at the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital two days ago following the attack on a junior doctor by a group of advocates who had come to visit their friend at the hospital.

Soon after, all the junior doctors squatted in front of the hospital and refused to go to work. Despite repeated pleas from the dean and other health officials, the doctors refused to return to work and continued to demand police protection and action against the attackers.

After holding talks with the striking doctors in Tiruchy, health minister Dr V.S Vijay on Tuesday appealed to the protesters to call off the strike and return to work.

“The government is taking all steps to provide adequate security to the doctors across the state,” he added.

Medical workers’ federation condemns nurses’ treatment

The Tamil Nadu medical workers’ federation on Tuesday strongly condemned the objectionable treatment meted out by Vijaya health centre to its staff nurses and alleged that the hospital management was harassing the striking nurses who were demanding a wage hike.

“They have cut the electricity and water supply in the nurses hostel and are sending thugs to threaten them. This is clearly a human rights violation and action should be initiated against the people behind it,” said Dr G.R Ravindranath, president of TNMWF.

Hundreds of nurses from the hospital have been on a strike for the past one-week demanding a hike in their basic pay.

While talks with the labour department officials failed, a group of nurses from the hospital approached the city police commissionerate and lodged a complaint claiming that the hospital management was harassing them and indulging in arm twisting tactics.

However, the hospital management termed the strike as illegal and said that notices have been issued to all the protestors asking them to return to work at the earliest.