Radiologists defer indefinite strike after talks with govt

Radiologists across the country today deferred their indefinite strike by a few months, after the government assured them their issues related to a legislation on sex determination would be addressed.
The Indian Radiological & Imaging Association had yesterday said it would go on a nationwide indefinite strike from today, after it failed to reach a resolution with the government.
"We held further talks with the government. We also communicated to our branch presidents the assurances given by the Health Ministry and, barring a few of them, all agreed to defer the strike by at least two-three months and work out a common ground during this time," IRIA President O P Bansal said.

The IRIA had yesterday held a protest at Jantar Mantar to press for their demand of amending the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, claiming that even clerical mistakes committed during their job like writing wrong names of patients are "equated" with sex-determination.
The apex body of radiologists had on August 31 given the first call for an indefinite strike from September 1. Later it held talks with the Health Ministry the same day.
Yesterday, when the final outcome of the meeting came, they had deemed it "unsatisfactory" and decided to go on the nationwide strike.

"Our strike was only for private hospitals and diagnostic centres, as we considered that several patients are suffering from dengue and other diseases, so government hospitals should not be burdened. In government hospitals, radiologists just wore black bands as a mark of protest," Bansal said.

"But after most of our branches decided to defer the strike, so we are doing it, but we have not called it off," he said.
The IRIA chief, however said, "radiologist today performed CT-MRI scans and dealt with emergency cases of only indoor patients."
The apex body of radiologists has alleged that certain provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act are "draconian" and these need to be amended.
"Even minor clerical mistakes committed during our job are equated to sex-determination. And several radiologists have faced harassment and been victimised," he claimed.
Set up in 1930s as Indian Radiological Association, the IRIA has currently about 14,000 members and 27 chapters across the country.

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Earlier at a press conference here, a section of activists alleged that the demand of radiologists to amend the PC-PNDT Act amounted to "dilution" of the legislation that seeks to prevent sex determination.
"We are saying the Act should be properly implemented and not diluted. This strike call by the IRIA is only a step in that direction. We also appeal to good doctors to come forward and raise voice against bad doctors who indulge in sex- determination," said Jagmati Sangwan of All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA).
Rights activist Sabu Mathew George, quoting a government figure, said, "Till March, there are over 2,200 ongoing police or court cases in connection with sex-determination by radiologists."

"There are 53,609 registered bodies across the country authorised to conducting ultrasounds, with Maharashtra accounting for maximum 7,219 and Delhi 1,571," he said.
As per the figures, nearly 1,600 machines have been seized and 350 convictions done while 100 medical licences have been cancelled or suspended, he said.
"Today's strike will legitimise these genocidal crimes and encourage the new generation to flout laws like PNDT," he claimed.
Sehjo Singh of Action Aid India said, "In the west it is a matter of choice, as sex determination is legal, but in India it is a matter of violence."
She said after tireless campaigns in the 1980, finally, in 1988 Maharashtra enacted the first law against foetal sex determination and Indian Parliament in 1994 (excepting Jammu & Kashmir) and Jammu and Kashmir in 2002.

IRIA President Bansal said, "Our demand does not amount to dilution of the law."
"We are even saying that the punishment should be increased to 20 years, in case a radiologist is found guilty, but why for clerical errors innocent people should be punished," he said.
"Family members are also involved in sex-determination, they should also be convicted. Also, as per clerical errors, sometime patients furnish incomplete or incorrect information, but even for that thing, radiologists are harassed under the Act," he claimed.
Also, out of the over 50,000 registered bodies authorised to conduct ultrasounds, most of them are done by "sonologists and not trained and certified radiologists".

"The government must try and put a check on these mushrooming private sonology centres where ultrasounds are being done," he said.
"Patient records in radiological scans are kept for two years generally and in matter of a court case, till the case has been resolved," he said.