Govt warns junior doctors against stir Staff Reporter GUWAHATI, Nov 21 The State Government today warned the agitating junior doctors of the Assam Medical College and Hospital and the Silchar Medical College and Hospital not to continue the strike inside the respective hospital premises, as it is causing apprehension in the minds of the patients. We are in a position to run both the hospitals without these doctors. If they want to leave, they can, and in that case, the Government would give new appointments. We have a contingency plan for such situations, Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told newsmen today.
If the junior doctors continue to stage protest inside the hospital premises, we would be forced to vacate the hostels. Moreover, the junior doctors would also face difficulty in getting their postgraduate degrees as they, by resorting to strike, are remaining absent from their routine duties, which they cannot do, the Government spokesperson asserted.
Over 100 doctors of both the medical colleges have resorted to strike since the last couple of days putting on black badges. Their demands include hike in monthly scholarship and procurement of equipment for some of the departments amongst others.
Medical service is an essential service and no doctor would be allowed to hamper the flow of the same. Having said that, we are ready to address the genuine grievances through discussion, which we have been doing, Sarma stated.
He further stated that the Government has succeeded in stopping the agitation culture amongst the doctors and no such thing would be tolerated, especially when it affects the health care system.
They are now demanding a monthly scholarship of Rs 30,000 and the State Government is ready to pay the same if these doctors agree to work for at least 10 years in rural areas as per the bond signed by them while taking admission, he said.
