The Resident Doctors of the Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD) called a state wide indefinite strike in all medical colleges starting from Monday, November 29. They protested against the postponement of NEET PG counseling and admission process, and failure of Karnataka government to pay COVID-19 risk allowance of Rs 10,000 per month from May 2021.

The doctors have called off all the elective services including OPDs and elective OTs (excluding the emergency services). A letter signed by KARD president Dr Tejas J to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, stated that the resident doctors were exhausted and overburdened due to the COVID-19 pandemic duties. They were working hard and waiting patiently for a positive outcome of the ongoing Supreme Court proceedings in the matter of NEET PG counseling till November 25, but the hearing was postpone till January 6. Further the Union government and Supreme Court of India was requested to take their grievance seriously or else they would be forced to continue their protest.

Earlier, a similar strike was called by the MMCRI-Mysuru which was called off on the assurance by Health Minister Dr Sudhakar, but no actions were taken.

Source: The New Indian Express