Doctors strike to hamper services in Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Medical Council president Dr K Senthil said more than 15,000 government doctors are expected to participate in the stir to press the demand. “During this strike, medical service will not be affected, and doctors will be wearing black badges to mark their protest. All government hospitals will function as usual.”

The strike which will be held from 6 am will also demand the complete withdrawal of National Medical Commission (NMC) bill.

The Tamil Nadu branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced that its members will also be part of the strike. “During the 24-hour strike, doctors will attend to only emergency cases. All government doctors will suspend their private practice during the strike,” said IMA president Dr S Kanakasabapathy.

“Doctors will not attend outpatients during the strike. However, in case of emergency, doctors will be available to treat the patients,” said Dr G Ravindranath, general secretary of the Doctors Association of Social Equality (DASE). The members of the association would participate in the strike. Ravindranath pointed out that the doctors would request the Centre to introduce a new Act that would give full protection to the medical staff during duty.

The Act to protect doctors has been enacted in 2008 itself in TN. However, it is not implemented effectively, said doctors. In addition, all loopholes in the State Act must be rectified, said Kanakasabapathy. There should be a separate Central Act to protect the doctors and also should look at all other issues faced by the medical staff, he added.