Madhya Pradesh govt doctors call off strike after HC’s reprimand

The doctors who went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday to press for the adoption of the Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) in Madhya Pradesh ended it after receiving criticism from the High Court.

On Wednesday, about 15,000 doctors throughout Madhya Pradesh began an indefinite strike and said that after making their demands known to the state administration on several occasions, the government was refusing to comply. Additionally, the doctors stopped the state’s emergency medical services. On Wednesday, the MP High Court ordered doctors to start working again promptly.

Vishwas Sarang, Medical Education Minister, said, “The MP High Court on Wednesday asked the doctors to resume work with immediate effect, and we also urged the doctors to call off the protest. On Wednesday night, the doctors informed us that they were calling off their strike.” Moreover, the General Secretary of the Madhya Pradesh Medical Officer Association, Dr. Ritesh Tawar, talked on Wednesday about the reason behind the strike.

“We had called off our earlier agitation after Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan’s assurance. After this, a high-level committee was formed through which some points were agreed upon, to which the administrative officers and office bearers of our union agreed. Instead of issuing orders on those points, we are being cheated by making changes to those points. So, we request the Chief Minister to intervene in the matter and issue orders on those agreed points immediately,” Dr. Tawar said.

When asked about the government’s claim that 95 percent of their demands have been fulfilled, Dr. Tawar said, “It is not so. During our earlier conversation, the administrative officials agreed on some points, and we showed our consent on some points. We all agreed on a common agenda. If we talk about DACP (the promotion scheme), then the time interval is not according to the Government of India; it has been increased. It is not acceptable to the medical community.”

Implementation of DACP is the main issue for the strike. The government is talking about not giving the benefit of DACP to those doctors who are posted in the village. They do not have proper facilities; they are staying away from their families and work throughout the month. Even after this, if they are being deprived of a promotion policy, then it is totally wrong, and that is why they are standing here, Dr. Tawar said.