By IANS
Ranchi : Hundreds of contract doctors in Jharkhand, in strike since Tuesday demanding their jobs be regularised, have threatened mass resignation on Dec 17 unless their demand is met.
“We have only one demand – that our services be regularised. It is matter of our survival and if our demand is not accepted by the state government we shall tender mass resignation on Dec 17,” said Bimlesh Kumar Singh, a leader of the protesting medics. He claimed he has received the resignation letters of 590 doctors.
The striking doctors have also threatened not to allow regular doctors to work from Monday and disrupt emergency services.
In 2003, the government had appointed 600 doctors on contract. Six months ago the doctors went on strike to demand their jobs be regularised. They had withdrawn the strike then and have again gone on strike.
Reacting to the strike, Health Minister Bhanu Pratap Shahi said: “The doctors should not indulge in such activities. If they (doctors) prevent other doctors from working then disciplinary action will be taken against them.”
Asked about regularising their services, the minister said: “The government is serious about the contract doctors’ demand. We are planning to appoint them on ad hoc basis and later regularise their services.”
The strike has affected health services in rural areas. Most of the contract doctors were posted in rural areas.