Doctors strike claim Nine life in Rajasthan, RESMA invoked

Nine more people lost their lives on Friday allegedly due to the lack of medical attention in the hospitals they were admitted or taken to by their relatives. The death toll during the three days of doctors' strike has now reached 20 in state. Single instance of victims succumbing to injuries was reported from Jaipur, Pali, Kota and Hanumangarh. Two deaths each were reported from Ajmer and Bikaner.
The doctors working in government primary healthcare centres, hospitals and dispensaries across the northern state are demanding better wages and promotion opportunities for themselves. "We have tried to take all their demands into account and yet they continue to be on strike. "I think they should think about the well being of their patients and revoke their strike and go back to work," said Ashok Gehlot, Rajasthan Chief Minister, reported the Times of India. Surgeries postponed and patients suffering without medical care forced the authorities to deploy army doctors and retired medical officers as an interim measure. Under severe public pressure, the state government invoked the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Emergency Act (RESMA) and arrested 200 doctors for failing to report for duty. Meanwhile, the All India Radio reported that medical teachers were also going on indefinite strike from today, which is likely to further strain medical services in the state. About 50 patients died in Rajasthan after doctors called a similar strike following police assault on their colleagues in September 2010.