Junior docs of Odisha’s VIMSAR resume strike

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, May 1:

The Junior Doctor Association (JDA) of Odisha’s Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) today resumed their strike demanding fulfilment of their long-pending nine-point charter of demands.

“The working condition is really bad here. The government cannot even guarantee something as basic as uninterrupted electricity and water supply. Patients depend on MRI machines of private operators. Only two of our nine demands have been fulfilled so far. The government keeps making and breaking promises. What choice do we have but to strike?” said JDA President Shankar Ramchandani.

“We understand out responsibilities well. The strike not only affects the healthcare services but also the study cycle. However, we have taken the stand for the greater and long-term interest of VIMSAR,” he added.

The students later gheraoed the office of the director and demanded the Health Minister to come to VIMSAR to hold talks.

Even though VIMSAR authorities have cancelled all leaves as a countermeasure to this strike, healthcare services are likely to be hit given the absence of the junior doctors and large scale vacancies in the institute.

Notably, the JDA had taken to the strike route between January 12 and 21 to press for their demands. The strike, however, was called off after Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak assured to look into the matter.

Their demands include installation of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine, delegation of financial and administrative power to VIMSAR, shifting of female medicine ward to a new building, strengthening of security on the medical college premises, round-the-clock water and electricity supply at the operation theatre, a labour room, a sick newborn care unit (SNCU), an intensive care unit (ICU), a new medicine ward, a canteen, hostels, an increase in library fund, recruitment of staff for the library, filling up of vacant teaching and non-teaching posts, and improvement in the sanitary condition of the institute.