Hyderabad: Junior doctors and residents called off their strikes on Friday after the health minister Damodar Rajanarsimha and officials from the health department assured them of concrete measures being taken up to boost the security of healthcare professionals in government medical colleges and hospitals.
Resident Doctors’ Association of Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (RDA-NIMS), along with Telangana Junior Doctors’ Association (TJUDA) had demanding revision and implementation of the Telangana Medicare Service Persons and Medicare institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2008 and a promulgation of an ordinance for the Central Protection Act.
They also wanted the Special Protection Force (SPF) Act to be implemented with immediate effect with increase in the number of security personnel.
Minister Rajanarsimha assured them that a high-level meeting will be held on Saturday to look into these demands. “After positive response from the minister, we have decided to resume our work from 8 am on Saturday,” said RDA NIMS president Dr Rajkiran Emmadi.
“NIMS being a semi-autonomous body has a slightly better infrastructure. There are 100-150 CCTV cameras in place. The hospital has invited tenders for 495 more cameras. The dean, director and CSRMO have inspected the hospital to identify dark spots and areas where cameras need to be installed. More security personnel will be deployed in the emergency department as well,” he told Deccan Chronicle. "The hospital administration also assured to look into basic infrastructural needs such as duty rooms, etc." he added.
TJUDA Osmania president Dr Rahul Kommu confirmed that the junior doctors had also called off their strike after assurance of better security for healthcare professionals. While TJUDA boycotted out-patient and elective services for 10 days, RDA had withdrawn the same for eight.
