THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The hour-long strike called by Kerala Government Medical Officers Association, Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association, Kerala Medical PG Association and the black day observed by IMA had adversely affected health care services both in the government and private sectors. The strike led to huge inconvenience to patients coming to outpatient wings in hospitals across the state.
Various organisations of doctors’ in Kerala on Tuesday called off their agitation in protest against the Medical Commission Bill following a decision to refer it to Parliamentary Standing Committee.
As the strike call was given between 10 am and 11 am, long queues were witnessed outside hospitals including institutions under the health department. The KGMOA strike had affected majority of the 1300 small and big hospitals besides government medical college hospitals and private hospitals.
At the general hospital here patients alleged that doctors, who were attending to patients, were removed forcibly from the rooms by their agitating colleagues. This led to protests from the patients. Similar scenes were witnessed in various other hospitals with patients alleging that the strike called at a short notice, had left them in the lurch.
The doctors also took out a march to Raj Bhavan and held a rally. Junior doctors who were on indefinite fast in front of Raj Bhavan also called off their protest.
The doctors associations alleged that NMC bill was against the principles of modern medicine as proposes to permit unscientific systems to enter modern medicine sector.
The structure of the new Commission has also come in for strong criticism from the medical fraternity. The proposed body which is set to replace MCI, will be more of a nominated board with little representation for states and UTs.
Apart from doctors, the under graduate students have also come out against the Bill which has proposed uniform national exit test.
