Rajasthan doctors strike: Strike continue, over 100 resume duty

Rajasthan Doctors strike enter 10th day today, after tough face from state govt. over 100 striking doctors on Thursday resumed duty here taking the total number of medicos rejoining work to 158 even as the situation remained grim with the stir entering the eighth day. "111 protesting resident doctors resumed duties at SMS Government Hospital," L C Sharma, Superintendent of SMS Hospital here, said. "Out of the total of 360 resident doctors, 158 in all have resumed duties. 47 of them had returned yesterday and the rest of them rejoined by this evening," he said.

"Most of the doctors have been released from jails after they agreed to join duty. At Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, 67 resident doctors out of a total 360 have joined duty. Others are likely to resume work tomorrow (Friday)," a health department officer told IANS. Over 3,500 resident doctors and 6,000 in-service doctors have stayed away from work since Dec 21, demanding a hike in salaries and parity with central government employees. He added that doctors at hospitals in other districts of the state also have started attending patients. Meanwhile, some 6,000 government doctors continued their strike. A delegation of doctors on Thursday met Minister Jitendra Singh and demanded that the state government lift the RESMA and look into their demands.  A total of 74 patients have died in hospitals across the state so far due to absence of doctors in last 10 days.  "We will be forced to take strict action against doctors for carrying out such strikes. Such strikes create anger amongst people and, therefore, doctors should resume work as soon as possible," said Gehlot.