PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Dehradun
Postgraduate doctors continued their protest on Tuesday outside the OPD building of the Government Doon Medical College (GDMC) Hospital and held a candle march in the evening, demanding a hike in their stipend. They warned that if no action is taken soon regarding their demands, they would intensify the protest by boycotting emergency services. According to sources, senior resident doctors have also been protesting with the PG doctors.
The PG doctors are seeking an increase in their stipend from approximately Rs 69,000 to Rs 1,25,000. They began their protest on September 8 and have maintained it through the night, indicating they will continue until they receive a written response to their demands.
President of the Resident Doctors Association Dr Abhijeet Rathi stated that their protest has now entered its eighth day on Tuesday. He emphasised that the protest will continue until their demands are addressed. In light of their demands for a stipend increase, they conducted a candle march from the OPD building to Ghanta Ghar and returned to the hospital. This march is part of their ongoing protest. Rathi also said that if the health minister does not engage with them regarding their demands, they will escalate their protest further. Currently, they are boycotting work in the OPD and wards and if the situation does not change, they plan to extend the boycott to emergency services.
The prolonged strike by the postgraduate doctors has created substantial challenges for patients. Many have expressed concern over the obstacles they are facing due to the protest by the PG doctors at the hospital.
It is notable that postgraduate doctors at other medical colleges in the State are also protesting for similar reasons.
