Hindustan Times (Patiala)

Patients at receiving end as students shut OPD services at Rohtak PGIMS

MBBS STUDENTS ALONG WITH RESIDENT DOCS OBSERVED A HUNGER STRIKE AT THE PGIMS

- HT Correspond­ent letterschd@hindustant­imes.com

ROHTAK: The health services were affected at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS), Rohtak, on Thursday after MBBS students, who have been protesting against state government’s bond policy, shut down the out-patient department (OPD) and elective surgeries wards. The PGIMS wore a deserted look as fewer patients and their relatives came there.

The MBBS students along with resident doctors observed a hunger strike at the PGIMS.

Priya Kaushik, a MBBS student, said they have decided to intensify their stir and would like to gherao the residence of BJP MLAs.

“Today, we have also decided to gherao the circuit house in Rohtak, where Haryana deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala came but he invited us for talks. A delegation of students held a meeting with him and the deputy CM has assured us of raising the voice before the chief minister. We will meet nursing associatio­n members and urge them to join the strike. Moreover, we will seek support from the students of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU) and ask them to join our stir,” she added.

Ankit Sheoran from Dadri said he along with his grandfathe­r came to the PGIMS for knee treatment but they went back as the OPD services were shut down. Talking to reporters in Rohtak, Chautala said he would read all the points mentioned in the bond policy and try to rectify it, if needed, after holding a meeting with the chief minister.

Earlier, the protesters had suspended OPD services for an hour on Saturday, two hours on Monday, three hours on Tuesday and four hours on Wednesday.

According to the state government’s bond policy introduced in November 2020, MBBS doctors have to pay ₹40 lakh as a bond to the state government for admission to a government college.

As per the new notificati­on dated November 7, “All candidates completing their MBBS course from government medical colleges in the state of Haryana shall have to execute a tripartite bond at the time of admission amounting to ₹36.40 lakh in government medical colleges and ₹32.80 lakh in government-aided medical colleges i.e. MAMC, Agroha, which will be signed at the time of admission between the candidate, bank and government.”

“The said loan/bond shall be implemente­d at the end of MBBS course if the candidate does not opt to serve in the government of Haryana upon selection. The moratorium shall be extended in case of candidate who wishes to pursue postgradua­tion,” the notificati­on stated. However, the students have rejected the new notificati­on.

OPD services hit at KCGMCH Karnal

KARNAL: Medical services were hit at the Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital (KCGMCH) in Karnal on Wednesday as resident doctors at the OPD joined the protesting MBBS students.

The resident doctors sat on a dharna along with the protesting students outside the OPD and the protesters warned the government to suspend emergency services as well if their demands were not met within 48 hours.

“We are forced to suspend the OPD services as the government is not ready to listen to the genuine demands of the students against the bond policy. If the government fails to withdraw the bond policy at the earliest, we will close the emergency services as well,” said a protesting doctor.

The protesting medical students alleged that they are protesting for the past 24 days but the government is not taking it seriously. “Not only the medical services but also the study of the students is getting affected,” said a student.

 ?? MANOJ DHAKA/HT ?? Students sit on a hunger strike in protest against the Haryana government’ bond policy, at the Rohtak PGIMS on Thursday.
MANOJ DHAKA/HT Students sit on a hunger strike in protest against the Haryana government’ bond policy, at the Rohtak PGIMS on Thursday.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India