Healthcare in Hyderabad to be hit as medicos, junior docs from OGH start indefinite strike
Healthcare services in Osmania General Hospital(OGH) is expected to take a hit as junior doctors of Osmania Medical College(OMC) have decided to go on an indefinite strike starting from April 3 on two issues - Health Minister Etela Rajender addressing a meeting conducted by Rural Medical Practitioners (RMP) and Private Medical Practitioners (PMP) Welfare Association in Sircilla on April 2 and non-payment of stipends to Broad-Specialty post-graduate medicos for the last five months and to Super-Specialty PGs for the last seven months.
Medical services in private hospitals and clinics might also get affected as TJUDA has also decided to approach the Indian Medical Association(IMA), to cooperate with them for a complete shutdown of medical services in the state. Junior doctors are medicos pursuing post-graduation, internships and other courses in medical colleges who offer services in the associated hospitals. They play an important role in government hospitals by extending healthcare services, due to the poor strength of permanent doctors there. Around one thousand junior doctors from OMC will go on an indefinite strike on April 3 and boycott their services, which will severely affect the quality of healthcare services being provided at OGH.
RMPs and PMPs have no medical educational qualification and are not registered with any medical institution or board. Despite their lack of qualifications, the RMPs and PMPs, also known as quacks, prescribe medicines and provide medical services to patients in not just rural areas but also in cities and towns.
The junior doctors have been raising concerns on the issue of quacks providing treatment to patients and the risks associated with unqualified person prescribing medications, without supervision by any authority. Last year in November, the TJUDA had raised concerns over former IT Minister and TRS working president, KT Rama Rao, addressing a meeting of RMPs and PMPs in Sircilla.
Dr PS Vijayender, chairman, TJUDA said, "We will continue our strike until the state government initiates some concrete moves against the RMPs and PMPs. The existence of RMPs and PMPs is outright illegal according to the Indian Medical Council Act. They should be prohibited from practicing, as many lives are endangered due to them. The government has not constituted any body to keep a tab on them despite orders by the High Court," he said. "Junior doctors in other medical colleges across the state will also conduct protests on the issue," he added.
