Gandhi PG docs call off strike; gives govt 15 days ultimatum to meet demands

Hyderabad: Postgraduate doctors at Gandhi Hospital have 'conditionally’ called off their strike after health minister Eatala Rajendra assured them that their genuine demands would be looked into.

The breakthrough was achieved after the Junior Doctors Association (JUDA) held threadbare discussions with the health minister.“Keeping public health into consideration especially given the pandemic and trusting the minister's reassuring words, JUDA has decided to conditionally call off the strike and resume duties with immediate effect,” the JUDA said.

JUDA urged the health minister to fulfill their demands within 15 days so they are not compelled to resort to strike again.

“Gandhi being a super-specialty hospital, capable of handling a variety of acute and chronic diseases, poor patients can be best benefited by resuming non-COVID services. This will be done after consulting the cabinet,” the minister said.

The JUDA were assured that SARI and symptomatic COVID positive cases will be decentralized and adequate provisions shall be made for the treatment of these cases in their respective district hospitals and all private medical colleges for better patient care delivery.

Also, government assured the recruitment of doctors, nurses, patient care providers, and sanitation workers will be made to overcome the shortage. Plus 30% extra force will be reserved.

"Recruitment of SPF as per GO 103 of Dec 2019 is under progress and will be provided soon in all government medical colleges/ hospitals”, the minister said.

Also adequate provision of PPE for HCPs, the quality of which will be chosen by JUDA, before placing the order. “As discussed with the minister, a committee will be formed by JUDA that would follow up with the minister regularly (through video conferencing) for the next 15 days on updates of the demands,” Eatela said.