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Uttarakhand Doctors Strike: Healthcare Grinds to a Halt
10 Sep
Summary
- Doctors boycotted duties for four days over stipend issues.
- Protests occurred in Dehradun, Haldwani, and Almora.
- A proposal for stipend increases has been sent to the secretariat.
Government hospitals in Uttarakhand experienced a significant halt in services on Thursday due to an ongoing four-day protest by doctors. Senior resident doctors, postgraduate students, and MBBS interns boycotted Outpatient Department (OPD) and ward duties, holding rallies in Dehradun, Haldwani, and Almora.
While emergency and intensive care duties continued, routine consultations and elective surgeries were impacted. In Haldwani, protesters attempted to meet the Chief Minister, an effort that was reportedly blocked by police, leading to disappointment among the medical staff.
Protesting doctors in Dehradun marched from Doon Hospital to Clock Tower and Lansdowne Chowk. Similarly, students in Almora organized a march from Gandhi Park to Shikhar Tiraha, voicing their demands for improved stipends.
Regarding potential resolutions, the principal of Govt Medical College in Haldwani stated an agreement was reached to limit future demonstrations to two-hour windows starting Friday. However, members of the resident doctors' association indicated they would continue their 24-hour strike. A proposal has been sent to the secretariat suggesting an increase in stipends to approximately Rs 1 lakh for senior resident doctors, Rs 90,000 and upwards for PG doctors, and Rs 30,000 for MBBS interns.
