Panaji, Nov 2 (IANS): Resident doctors attached to two designated Covid-19 hospitals in Goa, on Monday struck work at the two facilities in protest against the Goa government's decision asking them to vacate official accommodation or pay for their stay from their own pockets.

Goa Association of Resident Doctors' president Dr. Pratik Sawant said that the decision was taken without consulting them and travelling to and from the hospitals amounted to harassment.

"It is surprising that we have been informed by the authorities that we can continue to stay (in the official accommodation), provided we pay from our own pockets. Most of our junior residents are working diligently despite irregular salaries since the last five months and now we are being asked to pay for our stay for serving the people of Goa in Covid-19 pandemic which is unacceptable," Sawant said.

"We wish to continue to give our best services to the people of Goa, but under current circumstances it is next to impossible. We are waiting for the government to resolve the issue and will withhold our services till further response from the government," the Association president added.

Goa has three designated Covid-19 facilities -- the Employee State Insurance (ESI) Hospital, the South Goa District Hospital and the Goa Medical College, where some wards have been designated for Covid-19 patients with comorbidities.

The Goa government had withdrawn the free accommodation which had been provided to the resident doctors at the ESI and the South Goa District hospitals via a recent order. The doctors had been provided state-funded lodging in facilities located close to the two hospitals.