CHENNAI: As government doctors' 'fast-unto-death' protest on Madras Medical College premises entered its fourth day Monday, two from the protesting lot have been admitted to the Intensive care unit at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital.
The doctors, Rema (46), an ophthalmologist from Thiruvalur government medical college and hospital and Nachiappan(33) a surgeon from Sivagangai government medical college and hospital, suffered from low blood pressure and headache and nausea.
The two doctors have refused to take any oral food and are currently being administered IV drips, said Dr Perumal Pillai, STGPA. The protesting doctors have also alleged that police force was strengthened at the venue and that they were forced to vacate the premises. Though the state health minister is yet to respond to this development, the doctors' strike has attracted the attention of other political parties in the state.
DMK leaders Elangovan and RS Bharathi, CPI state general secretary Mutharasu and CPI(M) state general secretary Balakrishnan and Naam Tamilar Katchi leader Seeman reportedly met with the doctors on Monday to lend support to their cause.
The government doctors across the state are expected to go on one-day token strike on Tuesday. Both outpatient and inpatient services as well surgeries will be suspended in all government hospitals in TN tomorrow. However, doctors have announced that emergency, casualty and ICU services will not be affected.
The government doctors in the state have been protesting for almost a year now demanding implementation of their four-point charter of demands which includes salary hike, upscaling of the number of doctors in government hospitals, 50 per cent seat allocation for service quota candidates and counselling for postgraduates.
