The ongoing concerns of resident doctors at SMS Medical College took a new turn as their strike, which had been sparked by a recent incident in Kolkata, was called off following government assurances to address their demands. However, a meeting scheduled by the internal committee on Wednesday, set up by the High Court of Rajasthan to address the issues of resident doctors, was unexpectedly postponed without prior notice. This decision has caused frustration among the protesting doctors.
The President of the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD), Manohar Seoul, informed that the previous meeting had been postponed due to the ill health of Additional Advocate General, G.S. Gill. He expressed dissatisfaction, stating that only one meeting has been held so far and several critical issues remain unresolved. While a hearing is scheduled for tomorrow as per the High Court’s order, JARD has yet to receive official confirmation regarding this.
The Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD) has raised several key demands from the government, including an increase in stipend, which has remained stagnant for the past four years, and the introduction of a fixed annual increment in their remuneration.
They are also calling for improved security and better infrastructure at medical colleges to ensure a safer working environment. Discussions with the government were aimed to be focused on the demands of resident doctors.
Additionally, JARD has demanded better hostel facilities for resident doctors and the recruitment of junior specialists in all branches offering postgraduate degrees. They have also requested merit-based direct recruitment for postgraduate and super-specialty doctors, aiming for greater transparency and fairness in the hiring process. including security, amendments to the bond policy, and stipend issues. The potential dissolution of JARD may also be considered during the talks.
To highlight these concerns, the resident doctors had protested by boycotting services in outpatient departments (OPD) and emergency services, including in-patient departments (IPD), operation theatres, and labour rooms. This strike had significantly disrupted the functioning of SMS Hospital, JK Lone Hospital, and other government healthcare facilities, impacting patient care and services across these institutions.
Seoul denies rumours of JARD disbandment
Adding to the tension, rumours of the government disbanding JARD have surfaced. Seoul denied these rumours, reaffirming that JARD continues to be the voice of resident doctors. A meeting with the government is set for later today to discuss the demands of JARD, including increasing stipends, improving security, and revising the bond policy. The outcomes of this meeting will be reported to the court.
Meanwhile, SMS College Principal Dr Deepak Maheshwari stated that JARD had lost the trust of many residents, suggesting a new system may be put in place. This would involve forming a new committee with one top student from each department representing the resident doctors.
The government is moving forward with plans to create a new committee to address the issues raised by the resident doctors, signalling potential changes in how their demands will be represented and addressed in the future.