Panaji: While the resident doctors from State run Goa Medical College and Hospital began their day-long strike on Friday afternoon, the Goa Unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has said that they will strike work from 6 am on Saturday.
Several senior and junior resident doctors from Goa Medical College and Hospital near here began protest outside the hospital since afternoon, boycotting all the Outpatient Department services.
A senior leader from Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) told reporters that they have begun strike from 1 pm today (Friday) and the strike will continue till Saturday evening.
The protestors said that they will take a call on suspending the strike or continuing with it on Saturday evening, only after consulting their counterparts nationwide.
“We are protesting in solidarity with our colleague who was brutally raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical college at Kolkatta. We are hoping that there will be fair probe into the incident,” the protestors said.
They also added that uniform law should be enacted providing security to the doctors in the workplace.
Talking to reporters, Dean of GMC Dr Shivanand Bandekar said that the emergency services would not be affected with the strike.
He said that the senior consultants and Heads of Departments will take care of the emergency services. Bandekar said that the management of GMC totally understand the sentiments of the GARD.
He said that state Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has also his sentiments towards the striking workers.
Bandekar said that the follow up of the patients at OPDs will continue as they are treated as ‘emergency OPD cases.” He said that the emergency will be operational and life of patients would be saved.
Addressing a press conference in Panaji, Indian Medical Association Goa Branch President Dr Sandesh Chodankar said that all the doctors will be striking their work from 6 am on Saturday till 6 am of Sunday.
He said that the associations like Indian Dental Association, Goa Private Doctors Association, Goa Ayurvedic doctors association, Chemist and Druggist Association and Goa Nursing Association has extended their support to the strike.
