Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications
Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003
Financial Daily from THE HINDU group of publications Tuesday, Dec 30, 2003 |
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Industry & Economy
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Health AP: Minister hits out at junior docs for going on strike Our Bureau
Visakhapatnam , Dec. 29 THE Panchayat Raj Minister, Mr N. Janardhan Reddy, has faulted junior doctors in the State for going on a strike on certain policy issues without really understanding the implications and urged them to call off the agitation. The junior doctors are on strike for the past eighteen days. He told reporters here on Monday that junior doctors should concentrate on studies and not mislead the public without properly going through the Government Orders. "The poor are fully exempted from paying the user charges at Government hospitals and in case they do not possess white ration cards, the doctors have the discretionary powers to provide them services free of cost,'' he said, referring to the demand of the doctors for withdrawal of the charges. He also wondered why the doctors, who were studying medical courses with public funds and exhibiting so much concern for the poor, did not want to serve at the public health centres for at least five years. "If their concern for the poor is genuine, they should have no objection to serving in the rural health centres,'' he said. Referring to privatisation of medical education, the Minister said the students had no right to oppose private colleges in view of their (the doctors') unwillingness to serve in rural and tribal areas. "About 50 per cent of the seats in private medical colleges belong to the Government. Only 15 to 20 per cent of the seats are filled by the managements. Private institutions are providing seats to SCs, STs, and BCs and the latter are eligible for scholarships,'' he said, adding that with more medical doctors available, they would be able to work in the rural areas. Mr Janardhan Reddy, who had served as Health Minister in the past, said he was ready for an open debate on these issues. He also dismissed the claims of junior doctors of having public support and asked, "What service have the junior doctors done to people to expect public support? Only the opposition Congress party is supporting them for obvious political reasons.''
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