VIMSAR junior docs suspend stir, join work

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, Jan 21:

Striking junior doctors of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), the premier government referral hospital of western Odisha at Burla, today put their agitation on hold till January 31 and joined work.

The Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) took the decision at its general body meeting here today, informed president of JDA Shankar Ramchandani.

However, JDA has warned if the state government fails to meet their demands they would again resort to their agitation from February 1.

A ten-member delegation of the JDA had a meeting with Health & Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak yesterday. The Minister had assured the delegation to consider the demands of the striking doctors.

Notably, the strike by about 450 doctors and house surgeons of the medical college and hospital had rendered healthcare services of the institute almost defunct. The medicos had been on cease work since January 12 demanding fulfillment of their nine point charter of demands.

Their demands included installation of an 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 theater, a labor 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.