Striking doctors resume work in Lucknow

Anti-reservation resident doctors at the SGPGIMS in Lucknow resumed their duties.

Anti-reservation resident doctors at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow resumed their duties on Saturday, calling off their weeklong agitation.

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Amit Goel, president of the Resident Doctors Association told reporters: "We have called of the strike in response to the appeal made by President APJ Abdul Kalam in the larger interest of patients."

According to an official spokesman, the state government was all set to terminate theservices of the striking resident doctors Saturday under the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

However, Goel maintained that Friday night's decision was not taken under state pressure, saying, "We cannot be covered under ESMA as we are not regular employees of SGPGIMS".

The withdrawal of the strike has brought the much-desired respite to harried patients who had been at the receiving end ever since resident doctors boycotted work a week ago.

Several patients discharged earlier, on account of suspension of services due to the strike, were seen returning to the hospital.

"I am so relieved that the doctors have called off their agitation. At least my husband will be able to resume his treatment for which, we had nowhere else to go", remarked Rama Devi, wife of 57-year-old Sohan Singh who is being treated for renal failure.

Singh was bought here all the way from Patna (Bihar), where such super-specialty medical facility was not available.

After being discharged on May 21, he had moved to a nearby private guesthouse, hoping to resume treatment as soon as the stir was called off.

Members of SGPGIMS faculty were also instrumental in motivating the resident doctors to give up their agitation in the larger interest of patients.

However, faculty members expressed solidarity with the issues raised by the agitating residents.

"We have full sympathy with resident doctors and we support their cause," said a senior professor at the institute.