Sambalpur: The Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA) at Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Science and Research (VIMSAR) on Sunday resumed cease work from Sunday protesting against the non-fulfillment of their nine-point charter of demands by the State government.
“The State government had assured us that our demands would be fulfilled by April 30. But it has failed to keep its word. How will we work without the basic facilities of a medical college?” asked association president Shankar Ramchandani.
“There is no water supply to many operation theatres. In some cases, there is no lighting either. Medicines provided under Niramaya scheme are not sufficient for the patients,” he added.
The cease work is bound to affect medical services in VIMSAR, which is already struggling with large-scale vacancies.
Following the development, director of VIMSAR Sunamali Bag called heads of all the departments and asked them to ensure that patients should not suffer in any case.
Besides, the director has cancelled leaves of all senior doctors. The doctors, who are on leave, have also been asked to join immediately. Mobilisation of associate professors, assistant professors and senior residents in key points such as casualty and ICU has been done, sources said.
Last month, the JDA had gone on cease work but withdrew after the State government sought time till third week of April to resolve the issue and meet their demands. The JDA had then decided to put on hold their cease work till April 30.
Notably, the nine-point charter of demands of the JDA includes installation of MRI machine, shifting of female medicine ward to a new building, delegation of financial and administrative power to VIMSAR, 24x7 water and electricity supply at the operation theater, enhancing security on medical premises, , setting up of a sick newborn care unit (SNCU), intensive care unit (ICU), new medicine ward, a labour room, canteen, hostels, increase in library fund, recruitment of staff for the library, improvement in the sanitary condition of the institute and filling up of vacant teaching and non-teaching posts.