IMA announces major rally against RTH bill

JAIPUR: The Indian Medical Association (IMA), Rajasthan, announced a major rally in Jaipur on March 27 against the Right to Health bill, as the standoff between the state government and private doctors continued for the sixth day on Saturday.

The government, meanwhile, is readying to take action against private hospitals. officials close to developments said.

The director of public health issued a written to chief medical and health officers in all 33 districts to compile a list of private hospitals in their respective areas and send details about the owner, number of beds and whether the hospital is functional or shut.

Health minister Parsadilal Meena previously warned the doctors that the government “will take strict action if they do not resume work”.

Dr Vijay Kapoor, secretary of the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Society, said the IMA national president announced support for the strike. “The IMA national has appreciated our protest and extended its full support. We will hold a huge rally in Jaipur on the 27 in which all doctors and paramedical staff will take part,” he said.

The IMA national president and office bearers were in Jaipur on Saturday and met the doctors. The doctors also took out a protest march from SMS hospital to Trimurti circle.

The doctors’ protest continues to grow as other medical associations have come out in support of the doctors.

All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors Association (ARISDA) president Dr Ajay Choudhary said its 14,500 member doctors would observe mass leave on March 29. In addition, the earlier decisions of a pen down strike from 9 am to 11 am and to stop private practice at home after work hours would continue, he said.

Other associations, such as the Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India, the Jaipur Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society, the Indian Radiology and Imaging Association and the Rajasthan Chemist Association are also supporting the doctors.

The doctor’s strike has got support from government doctors also. Resident doctors from SMS hospital and six other government hospitals in Kota, Jhalawar, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Ajmer and Udaipur are on strike. Government doctors in Sikar, Jalore, Baran, Ajmer, Bhilwara, Barmer, Bharatpur, Alwar and Jodhpur are also supporting private medics.

Indian Medical Association Rajasthan president Dr Sunil Chugh said IMA Rajasthan has written to the chief secretary listing their demands which the government is not looking into.

“We want the government to identify what it means by designated healthcare centres that are mentioned in the bill. The government must give it to us in writing so it is not changed later,” he said.

THE IMA NATIONAL PRESIDENT AND OFFICE BEARERS WERE IN JAIPUR ON SATURDAY AND MET THE DOCTORS, WHO TOOK OUT A MARCH FROM SMS HOSP TO TRIMURTI