Docs keep in abeyance threat to quit

In the wake of an ‘assurance’ by the Karnataka government to work out an ‘alternative arrangement’ for resolving their grievances, about 4,000 striking government doctors in the state today resolved to keep in abeyance their decision to resign enmasse. The government’s assurance was conveyed to the Karnataka Medical Officers’ Association today.

“Since the government has assured us that it will work out an alternative arrangement to redress our grievances, we have decided to wait and kept the submission of our resignations to the director of the department in abeyance,” Dr Ravishankar, secretary, Karnataka Medical Officers’s Association, said. “However, we will continue our stir till we know what that alternative arrangement is and whether it satisfies us,” he said.

Around 4,000 doctors working in government hospitals across the state have been on an indefinite strike since November 10 protesting against the government’s “apathy” to their demands. After medical education minister Ramachandra Gowda yesterday refused to agree to their main demands for increased pay on a par with doctors in Medical Education and regularisation of those on contract but only acceded to formulating an ordinance, making assault on doctors a bailable offence, the doctors decided to submit their resignations enmasse.

As a result of the stir, working in government hospitals has to come to a grinding halt adding to the woes of thousands of patients.