Bangalore: Doctors' strike - Over 900 seek to resign, healthcare affected


Bangalore, Oct 28 (DHNS): A total of 911 doctors working in government hospitals across Karnataka submitted their resignation to the Department of Health and Family Welfare here on Monday, hours after staging a protest against their “unhappy” work conditions.

There was, however, confusion as doctors sought to submit resignations. Department officials refused to accept group resignations and said that each resignation form should bear the signature of the respective doctor.

They also insisted that the resignation form must clearly state that the doctors are “resigning out of our own will” and not “because we are dissatisfied with the job.”

Healthcare services across the State were affected as hundreds of doctors converged at the Freedom Park here to protest for a pay rise, regular supply of medicines, filling of vacancies and proper work hours.

On Sunday, the Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) had said its members would stage a protest in front of the Department of Health and Family Welfare office at Anand Rao Circle.

But with the police imposing prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC within a one-km radius of the area, the protest took place at the Freedom Park. Over 100 police personnel, led by two DCPs, were deployed to ensure no untoward incident occurred. The protest went off peacefully.

During the protest, the KGMOA’s general body gave a call to doctors to resign en masse. Doctors were asked to personally visit the department’s office and submit their resignation area-wise under Mysore, Gulbarga, Belgaum, Bangalore Urban and Bangalore Rural sections.

Addressing the protesters, Dr H?N?Raveendra, president, KGMOA, said, “If the government takes an extreme step and accepts our resignations, we will set up co-operative hospitals in the respective taluks and serve there. We do not intend to inconvenience the patients.”

Minister for Health and Family Welfare, U?T Khader, told a press conference in the evening that the resignations had neither been accepted nor rejected.

“They (doctors) would be served notice if they do not return to duty tomorrow,” he added. Khader said the protesters had requested him that they wanted to meet the chief minister. “This is most likely to happen tomorrow,” he added.

The minister was, however, sceptical if all the resignations were self-motivated. “Many doctors have called me and said they were forced to resign. We will look into all these aspects and then take a call,” he said and added that the government would try to meet most of the 12 demands put forth by the KGMOA.

 

Doctors' strike takes a toll on healthcare

Patients bore the brunt of the doctors strike in various government hospitals on Monday. Most of the government doctors from across the State had gathered at Freedom Park in Bangalore to stage a protest, leaving the patients waiting at various City hospitals helpless. While emergency services remained mostly unaffected, specialised care was not available to the ailing.

It was an endless wait for Mangala Gowri on a bench at KC General Hospital. The woman was with her one-year-old child, not sure if any doctor would attend to her husband who had to undergo hernia operation.

“We are here since 9 am. I was told that there is some protest happening but did not know that the wait would be this long. By noon, we were informed that the operation that was scheduled for today will only be performed a week later,” she said.

Senior citizens and children were not spared the agony either. Sixty-five-year-old Danamma, a resident of Srirampura was sent back after a two-hour wait. Her cousin who accompanied her said, “We are told that the doctors are on strike. We have no choice but to go back now.” According to sources in the hospital, just eight out of 50 doctors reported for duty on Monday.

It was a similar situation at many other major hospitals in the City that are run by the Department of Health and Family Welfare. At K?R?Puram General Hospital, just three out of nine doctors rendered services. At least 300 patients were treated as out patients at the Hospital. Even as parts of the State were worse hit, the City hospitals were better off, thanks to the medical college hospitals.

While in most places patients were sent back home untreated, in a few other cases, they were referred to Medical College Hospitals. Patients who came to Government HSIS Gousia hospital were referred to Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.

The Hospital that sees at least 100 out patients daily, could only cater to 10 patients on Monday with just two doctors working.

Doctors working under National Health Mission were also summoned by the officials of health department to render their services at various hospitals.

The situation remained near normal at Jayanagar General Hospital as all the 48 doctors reported for duty. However, sources in the Hospital told Deccan Herald that the doctors did participate in the protest for a short while but reported for duty thereafter.

At a meeting convened in Vidhana Soudha, Chief minister Siddaramiah said that the government was open to talks with the striking doctors. “Even I am willing to meet them and discuss the issue,” he added.

  

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Comment on this article

  • praveen, udupi/bangalore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    If majority of the doctors where belongs to minority community then 101% they would have got DOCTOR BHAGYA !!!!

    DisAgree [13] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    YOU GUYS SURVIVE ONLY BY DIVIDING PEOPLE ...

    DisAgree [16] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sandesh Shetty, Bangalore/Kudla

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai dividing people was the main motto of your secular party khangress since our country got independence.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [9] Reply Report Abuse

  • S. N., Udupi / Dubai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Why there is no agreement system in India between employee and employer? We cannot demand any thing in the gulf once we sign agreement for two years. Only we can demand once in two years, when renewal of employment contract.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Af, mangalore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    a Fitting answer by minister khadar to doctors is appreciable,i think govt shud not bend for their each and every demand ,it leeds to others department a big advantage to go for strike for thier silly demands,,there are only few doctors who really giving the service to the poor and not behind the money,
    After taking secure govt jobs their behavior got changed time to time,enjoying thier demands by putting poor public into trouble is not accepted at all.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rita, Germany

    Wed, Oct 29 2014

    qAF Mangalore,you are right.Doctors in India are acting in India like higher judge.Actually patients are suffering there.Doctors exactly knew they are most wanted and Minister may giveup.Usually when doctors are supposed to give a notice in advance if they want to strike so that patients care is not effected.and a emergency unit should be there .without that they are not supposed to strike like in labourers in railway Station.It is against their ethic.when something goes wrong they are taken to Task usually.but in INdia no one cares.Here because of Ministers saying they went to strike.But when they mint Money from patients they have no mercy.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [2] Reply Report Abuse

  • Subrahmanya, Mangalore/Muscat

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    WE NEED GOOD PLAN BY HEALTH MINISTER to curb these useless(more than 90%)white elephants of government hospitals. GO AHEAD Mr.KADER almost everyone(EXCEPT YOUR POLITICAL/PERSONAL RIVALS) in the state are with you deal this BLACKMAILERS. Good alternative plan always appreciated and definitely you will succeed . All the BEST

    DisAgree [7] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • flavian dsouza, chik/banaglore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    please accept their resignations half of the doctors just take salary and run their own show or visit private hospitals . Shame of the doctors to scoop down to this level do a silent protest but do not put poor patients in trouble

    DisAgree [8] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lingappa, Kuppepadavu/Amsterdam

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    An outright useless Health Minister who might slowly head the J Poojari way. Khader Bhai, its not as easy as advocating for an arrested passenger at the airport carrying banned substance. Though it was none of your business.

    DisAgree [13] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Albert, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Doctors' strike - Over 900 seek to resign, healthcare affected... So what??
    Our health minister is a 'superman' he checks 'pulse' and announces the patient as 'dead' before doctor confirms!!
    He rushes to hospitals and behaves as if he has provided AIIMS facility in government hospitals.
    After all all government hospitals are Congi's private property ..right??
    So take tension??

    DisAgree [7] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    If Doctors were muslims by Majority, Siddu would have solved their problem.

    For congress it is OUTSIDERS IMPORTANT.

    DisAgree [24] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • lancy, dubai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    your mind is totally corrupted need revamp. Cooldown Happy to know BJP is ruling friend not your enemy congress but you invite congi now and then so they will come soon.

    DisAgree [9] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Tom Cat, Mangalore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Mr Dinesh Poojary dont boaSt , EVEN BJP IS THE B PLAN OF CONGRESS. BJP rules according to congress wimps.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • yogesh , bombay

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Unhappy work conditions? Make patients happy first

    DisAgree [3] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Gregory, Vamanjur/Muscat

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Khader is the best minister among the whole group of ministers under Siddaramayya government. If the striking doctors can't deal with this persons that means this is deliberate. He is a cool listener and acts as well. Our doctors from Udupi and Mangalore must support him as he is doing a good job for his people as well. Doctors should not indulge in politics, they should look for solutions which doesn't harm general public. Hope this issue will solve without delay......

    DisAgree [10] Agree [24] Reply Report Abuse

  • vassu, kudla

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Doctors are not slaves of the general public. They have slogged a lot to become doctors. even they have a right to good life which is possible only by addressing their grievances by the government. Our governments always boast of their intention to give international level of health care to the sick people but have they ever tried to find out the salaries of doctors in foreign countries? every time there is a strike by the government doctors, the media quickly puts some pictures of harassed patients in front of the hospitals.why doesnt the same media try to do a reality check on the living conditions of government post graduate student doctors and the pittance paid as salary to the doctors. Its only miniscule percentage of doctors who make millions otherwise a doctor doesnt make even as much as IT employees. It would be better if Mr. Khader looks into the demands of these doctors without any bias and give them a suitable relief.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Our health minister was in South Africa few weeks back. The WHO organizers who invited him might be laughing at his in-capabilities now...

    DisAgree [34] Agree [17] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vincy, Bangkok

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Thousands of doctors who get free medical seats and have a bond to serve a minimum period with government hospitals deny and avoid to be positioned at remote areas.
    When UT Khader came out with a policy of fine for such cases,the doctors are ready to pay fine but do not want to work in remote hospitals
    All efforts he made since he become minister to create a good health services for the poor and you think he doesn’t know how to handle this situation.

    DisAgree [6] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh Gonsalves, Mangalore / Dubai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Any day better than junglee Sriramulu.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Handling HEALTH MINISTRY of Karnataka is not as easy as rescuing deralakatte rapists, ullal miscreants by dialing 0824 from Bangalore.

    DisAgree [18] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishna, karkala

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Ask your Congi Madam. She has plenty of money slashed abroad from 2G, cwg, Coal, Helicoptor, Defence truck, Air India etc scams

    DisAgree [31] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Santan Mascarenhas, Kinnigoli/Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Doctor is a person who kills your ills by his pills, but, later kills you by his bills. Since, private hospitals are costly, the Government should take care of Govt hospitals and the improvement of doctors' wages and living conditions. "Even I am willing to meet and discuss the issue " says CM. Where were you up to now ? Sleeping as usual ?

    DisAgree [10] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    FEKU SHOULD DIVERT SOME BLACK MONEY TO THESE DOCTORS ...

    DisAgree [24] Agree [35] Reply Report Abuse

  • Ajith, Mangalore/Bangalore

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    @ Jossey Saldanha.
    Who is Feku and whose black money and why it needs to be diverted here please clarify.

    DisAgree [7] Agree [12] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Feku is Diggi the person who invented the dialogue…..Fake means Nehru Family divulged in inter cast marriage and borrowed the surname by making spelling mistakes. Black money means funds stashed in Swizz and Italian Banks by these family members…..but why it needs to be diverted here probably because present Karnataka Govt doesn’t have funds to pay enough salaries to these Doctors in par with other Medical Professional in other Govt Sectors

    DisAgree [18] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Jossey Saldanha, Mumbi

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    NARENDRA MODI ...

    DisAgree [9] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sachidanand Shetty, Mundkur/Dubai

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Instead you say NaMo NaMo to purify yourselves

    DisAgree [3] Agree [3] Report Abuse

  • Sandesh Shetty, Bangalore/Kudla

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Jossey Saldanha, Mumbi Narendra Modi means Namo. Feku means Fake Gandhi Family.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [1] Report Abuse

  • Dinesh Poojary, Kundapura/Bengaluru

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    Jossey

    You can divert part of your looted money to these poor doctors.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lingappa, Kuppepadavu/Amsterdam

    Tue, Oct 28 2014

    What a pathetic state of mind

    DisAgree [10] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse


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Title: Bangalore: Doctors' strike - Over 900 seek to resign, healthcare affected



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