11-day medicos' strike called off

Representatives of AP Medical Students' Association informs Rosaiah their decision

CRUCIAL MEETING: Minister for Health K. Rosaiah at the all-party meeting convened to discuss junior doctors' strike in Hyderabad on Sunday. MLAs Chada Venkata Reddy (CPI), Komireddy Ramulu and D.K. Aruna, MLAs are also seen. — PHOTO : P.V. Siv akumar

HYDERABAD: The 11-day strike by medical students, which had hit patients in Government teaching hospitals hard across the State, has been called off completely.

Representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Medical Students Association, which had spearheaded the strike, announced late on Sunday that they were calling off the strike, "respecting the High Court's observations and directives". The Association also met Health Minister K. Rosaiah to inform him about their decision.

Earlier, the State Government had decided against taking off-court decision in dealing with the strike. They had planned to wait until the court delivered its judgement.

This was conveyed to an all-party meeting convened by the Government here on Sunday. Health Minister K. Rosaiah briefed the meeting about the outcome of the talks with the representatives of AP Junior Doctors Association (APJUDA) over the last two days.

Those who attended the meeting included Nagam Janardhan Reddy (TDP), Chada Venkat Reddy (CPI), D.K. Aruna (Samajwadi Party) and Komireddy Ramulu (Janata Party).

Briefing reporters later, Mr. Rosaiah said the leaders were apprised of the Government's efforts in persuading the doctors to end the strike.

Court's question

He told the meeting that the court had asked the Government why it did not take stern measures against the striking doctors like cancelling their registration or initiating contempt of court proceedings for violating earlier orders. The Government, however, had no such intentions. Mr. Rosaiah thanked Mr. Janardhan Reddy for offering the services of member-doctors of TDP at Government hospitals.

Mr. Janardhan Reddy told reporters separately that the court verdict should be the guiding principle to end the strike.

He felt the need to increase the PG seats but it should be done as per guidelines of Medical Council of India. Mr. Venkat Reddy (CPI) said he had appealed to the Government to give priority to in-service doctors in rural and agency areas in selection to PG courses.

From http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/04/17/stories/2006041709690400.htm