Junior doctors’ strike affects healthcare in Kashmir

SRINAGAR - The junior doctors’ strike in Jammu and Kashmir entered the fourth day Tuesday, adversely affecting healthcare facilities in the valley.

In Srinagar’s largest SMHS Hospital, no surgery has been done during the last three days as the junior doctors struck work Saturday due to alleged pay anomalies. At least 10 surgeries of different types are usually performed at the hospital every day.

“The strike of the junior doctors is genuine as there is a huge disparity between the pay structures of the junior doctors in Jammu and Kashmir and the other states of the country,” spokesman of the junior doctors Riyaz Ahmad said here.

A representative of the junior doctors’ association said: “The junior doctors are planning to submit mass resignations if the government resorts to their arrest or intimidation.”

In the women’s maternity hospital called the Lalded hospital, the number of deliveries dropped from 130 to just 16 Monday.

In the city’s only bone and joint hospital also the situation was grim. The outdoor patients care has been worst affected in the hospital where senior doctors said they had been performing emergency surgeries.

Officials said the government was trying to defuse the situation by talking to the representatives of the striking doctors.

“The minister for health and medical education had a meeting with the representatives of the striking doctors yesterday (Monday) evening to defuse the situation,” said an official of the local heath department.

Around 4,000 junior doctors are presently on strike in the state.