THE 16-DAY-LONG strike by Radiotherapy Department students of Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal was called off on Thursday after reported assurances from Governor Balram Jakhar and State Gas Relief Minister Babulal Gaur to open up a separate cancer ward for the GMC on the sixth floor of Kamla Nehru Gas Relief Hospital.
The strike – which also had support of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) and Class III and IV employees of GMC – had affected medical services in the Hamidia Hospital and cancer patients were facing a tough time in the absence of regular OPDs and other facilities.
Leader of the striking post-graduate students Dr Shrikant Khare told the Hindustan Times that Babulal Gaur had approved the new cancer ward in the evening. “We met Babulal Gaur at about 7 pm and he told us that he had signed the file allotting the sixth floor of Kamla Nehru hospital for the new cancer ward of GMC,’’ Dr Khare maintained.
Earlier, a delegation of the striking students and junior doctors had met Babulal Gaur at 10 am also with their set of demands. “Babulal Gaur had assured us that a separate cancer ward would be started soon in the Kamla Nehru Gas Relief Hospital,’’ GMC JDA (OBC faction) president Dr Vineet Gour said.
He added, the delegation had then met Governor Balram Jakhar too at about 10.30 am and the latter had also given them the assurance to look into the matter and write to the State Government to provide space for the cancer ward in the Kamla Nehru hospital.
{{/usCountry}}He added, the delegation had then met Governor Balram Jakhar too at about 10.30 am and the latter had also given them the assurance to look into the matter and write to the State Government to provide space for the cancer ward in the Kamla Nehru hospital.
{{/usCountry}}Subsequently, the medicos met GMC Dean Dr M K Saraswat in the afternoon. “Dr Saraswat has written to the Medical Council of India (MCI) to send their team for inspection of the new ward so that proper registration could be obtained for it,’’ Dr Gour stated.
After getting these assurances, striking medicos called off the strike at about 5 pm. PG students will return to regular duty at the Hamidia hospital OPD from morning of November 17, Dr Khare said.