PG STUDENTS of the Radiotherapy Department of Gandhi Medical College (GMC) will start an indefinite strike from November 1, with GMC administration and the State Government failing to take any positive steps on their demands.
The main demands of the junior doctors are separate 30-bed ward for cancer patients and steps for securing Medical Council of India (MCI) recognition for the department.
A department junior doctor, Dr Shrikant Khare, told Hindustan Times that they had made several efforts to get their demands
fulfilled, including going on a two-day token strike on October 16 and 17.
However, the government and hospital administration gave just assurances and failed to take concrete steps to solve the problems.
The junior doctors had warned that if no steps were taken by October 31, they would proceed on indefinite strike from November 1.
The demands of junior doctors are being supported by other junior doctors, medical students and also NGOs associated with cancer care, private doctors and some other eminent personalities. The PG students have earlier also decried the lack of facilities for patients in the department, as most of the important therapy machines are non-functional in absence of radioactive source.
Following the token strike, the dean and superintendent of the college and hospital assured the students that the government was initiating steps for setting up a separate cancer ward on the premises of the Kamla Nehru Hospital within GMC campus.
{{/usCountry}}Following the token strike, the dean and superintendent of the college and hospital assured the students that the government was initiating steps for setting up a separate cancer ward on the premises of the Kamla Nehru Hospital within GMC campus.
{{/usCountry}}Later the students had also met Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and medical education secretary I M Chahal and got assurance of prompt action in the matter.
However, no action is yet forthcoming, leading the students to begin an indefinite strike. Hamidia College Superintendent Dr V K Pandya said that the strike by the PG students would not hamper the functioning of the department much, as consultants would take over the work.