Health and medical services remained paralysed as the doctors’ strike entered its sixth day in Rajasthan on Monday. The state government invited the doctors for talks but also adopted a tough posture and termed the strike as illogical.
The strike has claimed over 50 lives because seriously ill patients have been left unattended. The state government authorised 44 private hospitals to provide medical services to the needy while the Opposition blamed the situation on the government.
The state has invoked Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) and over 400 doctors have been arrested in the last six days. The government also terminated the services of two chief medical and health officers and 10 principal medical officers. Chief minister Ashok Gehlot on one hand appealed to the doctors to resume work and on the other cautioned that people may lose patience.
Government hospitals and health centres wore a deserted look with patients moving to private hospitals. In Sikar, Tyaib Sheikh approached several hospitals with his ailing son Shaqir on Sunday but it proved futile and his son died. The health department, however, denied reports of strike-related deaths and said the government had made alternative arrangements with Army, BSF and railway doctors.
The government clarified that it had met most of the demands but the doctors were on strike as only 264 senior doctors were unhappy with their pay packages.