JK doctors continue stir; govt constitutes committee

Government doctors across the state are on an indefinite strike called by the Doctors Joint Action Committee (DJAC), demanding revision in their pay packages. The strike continued for the 16th day today even as the health-care services in both the Government Medical Colleges and several hospitals remained paralysed.

A decision to constitute the six-member committee, was taken at a cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, an official spokesman said. The spokesman said the committee, comprising Finance Minister A R Rather, Health Minister S L Sharma, Medical Education Minister R S Chib, Minister of State for Medical Education Javed Ahmad Dar and Advisors to CM, Mubarak Gul and Davender Singh Rana, would take stock of the situation and take appropriate measures so that patient care does not suffer.

The members of the committee will visit Jammu and Srinagar medical facilities tomorrow (October 21) and discuss various aspects with the stake holders concerned, he said. The junior doctors in Jammu have been on strike on October 5 while their counterparts in the valley went on strike from October 9 in support of their demands including removal of pay anomaly and other related issues of regularisation and discrepancies.

Calling for "SK institute of Medical sciences Chalo" on October 22, striking junior doctors said they would not call off their strike but expressed their willingness to hold negotiations with the Chief Minister.

"We are ready for negotiations with CM, who has been misinformed by the bureaucrats and other officers. We will not call off strike till government comes out with an order to fulfill our demands", spokesperson of Doctors Joint Action Committee, Mehraj said. "All the junior doctors will march towards SKIMS on October 22 and stage a silent sit in there", he said, adding "Government is following callous approach. We need to awake them from the deep slumber".

Mehraj reiterated that emergency services will be shutdown in the peripheral hospitals also if authorities take any action against the striking doctors. "We appeal block medical officers and chief medical officers not to force any doctor to resume duties otherwise we will be forced to act against the particular person", he warned.