Jaipur, Dec 29 (IANS) Healthcare services which have remained badly affected in Rajasthan for the past nine days due to the ongoing strike of doctors are likely to improve as hundreds of resident doctors joined duty after being released from jails, officials said Thursday.
Over 450 doctors were arrested across the state for violating the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) clamped by the state government.
‘Most of the doctors have been released from jails after they agreed to join duty. At Sawai Man Singh Hospital in Jaipur, 67 resident doctors out of a total 360 have joined duty. Others are likely to resume work tomorrow (Friday),’ a health department officer told IANS.
Over 3,500 resident doctors and 6,000 in-service doctors have stayed away from work since Dec 21, demanding a hike in salaries and parity with central government employees.
He added that doctors at hospitals in other districts of the state also have started attending patients.
Meanwhile, some 6,000 government doctors continued their strike.
A delegation of doctors Thursday met minister Jitendra Singh and demanded that the state government lift the RESMA and look into their demands.
A total of 55 patients have died in hospitals across the state so far due to absence of doctors, officials said.
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot Monday warned the striking doctors of public anger.
‘We will be forced to take strict action against doctors for carrying out such strikes. Such strikes create anger amongst people and, therefore, doctors should resume work as soon as possible,’ said Gehlot.
