Resident doctors in Rajasthan call off strike

Resident doctors of the Rajasthan state called off their strike late on Tuesday night. They ended their stir unconditionally in the interest of patients, health minister Durru Miyan said. The nearly 3,200 residents associated with seven medical colleges had joined the strike in support of in-service doctors six days ago. Their decision to report back for work would restore services in major medical collges of the state, including SMS Hospital in Jaipur. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) sought release of arrested doctors and revocation of RESMA. “We will ask our members across India to strike work if the demand is not met,” IMA said.
Despite assurance by a delegation of resident doctors to call off their strike from today, majority of them did not resume duty and continued their protest in support of agitating government medicos. Out of around 450 resident doctors, only 35 resumed duty in Jaipur and the situation remained almost same in other parts of the state, official sources said here. A three-member delegation of resident doctors, who as a sign of solidarity had joined the strike of in-service government doctors on December 21, met the state medical and health minister Duru Miyan at midnight and assured him of calling off their strike unconditionally from Wednesday morning. However, it looks like the strike continued.