VIMSAR striking docs to meet Health Minister tomorrow in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Sambalpur, Jan 19:

A ten-member delegation of the striking Junior Doctors Association (JDA) of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla will tomorrow meet Odisha Health & Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak at Bhubaneswar to discuss on their nine point charter of demands.

Principal, superintendent and director of VIMSAR will accompany the delegation in its meeting with the minister.

The striking junior doctors agreed to meet the Minister in Bhubaneswar following their discussions with BJD MLA from Sambalpur Dr Raseswari Panigrahi.

However, the junior doctors are continuing with their cease work, which entered the eighth day today.

In the meanwhile, the striking junior doctors took out a rally that marched the streets of Burla like yesterday to highlight their demands. They were joined by the senior resident doctors of VIMSAR.

Even the Nursing Association and other associations of VIMSAR have extended their support to the agitating junior doctors.

About 450 junior doctors and house staff are on strike to press for their nine point charter of demands.

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.

The cease work of the junior doctors and house staff has badly affected health service in this premier government referral hospital of western Odisha.