ON DAY2, GOVT CALLS DOCTORS’ BODY FOR TALKS WITH CM RAJE

doctors’ strike entered the second day on Tuesday crippling medical services in Rajasthan. The health department has invited All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) officials for talks on Tuesday. It is expected that chief minister will talk to the striking doctors at the 6 pm meeting.

Government doctors went on indefinite mass leave from Monday demanding better pay and separate cadre.

Meanwhile, the health department has directed all district collectors to appoint medical officers on ₹56000 honorarium through walk-in interviews. Health department deputy secretary Paras Chand Jain said that even though the in-service doctors have claimed to have submitted their resignations, the state government has not received them. ARISDA president and officials have also not submitted their resignations, Jain added.

He said according to Rajasthan Service Rules, doctors can’t go on mass leave or submit mass resignations. The striking doctors can be suspended or terminated.

Jain said that the home department on September 17 had slapped Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) on medical services for three months. According to the order, action can be taken against absent doctors and they can be arrested. The government has asked police and jail administration to be ready.

Owing to the strike, the patient load on government hospitals attached to medical colleges has increased in six districts — Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer, Bikaner and Jodhpur. “I have come to the dispensary to consult a doctor for my son. When I saw that there are Ayush doctors instead of allopathic doctors, I decided to go to a private hospital,” said Sandeep Sharma in Kota.

Congress leader Sachin Pilot expressed concern over the problems faced by the public because of the strike. He appealed to the in-service doctors to call off their strike keeping public interest in mind.

JAIPUR:The