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Patients die while doctors agitate in Rajasthan

Last updated on: September 07, 2010 14:36 IST

At least 30 patients have lost their lives in the ongoing stir by resident doctors in at least 50 government and private hospitals in Rajasthan.

Medical services are virtually paralysed in five major districts of Rajasthan due to the strike.

On Saturday night, attenders of an injured patient Nemi Chand Mali allegedly misbehaved with resident doctors on duty at MDM government hospital in Jodhpur, official sources said.

A scuffle soon broke out between the medics and the kin of the patient following which police resorted to lathicharge to control the situation, they said.

Demanding action against senior police and administration officials, private and government doctors went on a strike in around 40 hospitals in Jodhpur, while resident doctors struck work in Jaipur, Kota, Ajmer and Bikaner.

Senior government doctors have announced a day's mass leave in Kota on Tuesday when private doctors will join the strike in Jaipur.

"All the private doctors have decided to go on strike on Wednesday affecting services in around 400 private hospitals," Dr Shivraj Singh, Secretary of Jaipur Medical Association claimed.

"In all government and private hospitals here, doctors are on strike since Sunday and the strike will continue until government

takes action against those involved in the lathicharge," Pramod Sharma, president of Doctors' Sangharsh Samiti, Jodhpur, said.

Naresh Roy, Secretary of Rajasthan Medical College Teachers' Association-Kota, said that 70 resident doctors are on strike in two government colleges and 100 senior doctors and medical collge teachers will go on one-day mass leave on Tuesday in support of Jodhpur doctors' demand.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot reviewed the situation with state Health Minister A A Khan and senior officials.

"It is a matter of concern. Doctors and nursing staff must cooperate with patients and their kin. Doctors are like God for patients," Gehlot said while condemning the doctors' behaviour.

Meanwhile, a section of doctors in Rajasthan on Monday night called off their agitation after authorities assured of a thorough probe into the incident.

Some senior doctors, medical teachers and private doctors in Jaipur and Jodhpur withdrew their strike late Monday night after a meeting with senior administration and police officials, including SP Mahesh Goyal and Additional Commissioner Govind Charan, Sharma said.

He, however, said the resident doctors in Jodhpur and other cities like Ajmer and Bikaner are likely to continue the strike.