Thiruvananthapuram: The second round of talks held by Dr. Paul Sebastian, director of the Regional Cancer Centre, with the protesting doctors on Thursday failed to make any headway. The four senior doctors who had resigned in protest against the government’s decision to introduce Multi-Disciplinary (MDT) Boards in place of the site-specific clinic system, did not withdraw their resignations. The striking doctors are opposing the method in which MDT is implemented.
Dr. Paul Sebastian said that the doctors should be allowed to work in different clinics. This suggestion was opposed by the striking doctors. “Suppose a clinical oncologist working in the ‘E’ clinic (Chest & Gastro-intestinal) can continue in this particular clinic. According to the choice of the oncologists, they can switch to medical and surgical departments, but clinical oncologists and radiation oncologists can’t opt for other clinics,” said Dr. Suresh Kumar, state secretary of the Association of Radiology Oncologists of India and joint action council state president. The striking doctors claim that MDT Board concept will dilute the functioning of various clinics and want the order issued on December 30 to be revoked. The talks will continue on Friday.
