Junior doctors go on strike in Madhya Pradesh

BHOPAL - Health services were affected in three medical colleges of Madhya Pradesh Friday as junior doctors struck work demanding reduction in the mandatory rural service period to one year and a hike in emoluments.

“The junior doctors of Bhopal, Gwalior and Rewa Medical colleges pressing for their various demands went on an indefinite strike from Friday morning,” Madhya Pradesh Junior Doctors Association (MPJDA) president K.K. Prajapati told IANS.

He said the striking junior doctors are against the government’s decision of making three-year rural service mandatory for them after post-graduation.

“We decided to go on a strike because the desired result was not achieved even after taking up the issue (of making three-year rural service mandatory for us) with the authorities concerned. We want duration of the mandatory service in the rural areas reduced from three years to one year,” Prajapati said.

He said the junior doctors are also demanding an increase in emoluments to Rs.35,000 along with other allowances during the rural service phase. Also, the doctors want to be posted in those hospitals where their special skills can be used properly.

“We opted for the agitation after four months of continuous demand from the government. But the government has seized all our documents and forcing us to go in rural areas to give service. We have no problem in going to rural areas but our payment along with other facilities should be increased,” said Prajapati.

The junior doctors of the remaining two medical colleges - Indore and Jabalpur - are likely to join the agitation Saturday after submitting their resignations as they are binded by the court orders not to struck work.