Nearly 10,000 government doctors inGujarat from government hospitals, government medical colleges, Gujarat Medical Education Research Society (GMERS) and dental teachers of government medical colleges are scheduled to go on an “indefinite strike” from Thursday, due to unsuccessful talks with the Gujarat government over their several pending demands of senior government doctors.

Under the former Chief Minister Vijay Rupani’s leadership, on May 16, 2021, the Gujarat government’s health department had issued a government resolution, addressing several demands of senior doctors, some of these demands dating back to as long ago as 2012. It also included issues related to pension benefits, direct recruitment for ad-hoc appointments, payment of non-practising allowance and salary increments, but was not implemented. Instead, a second GR was issued on November 22, 2021, withdrawing the earlier May GR.

Dr Hitendra Desai, affiliated to Gujarat Medical Teachers’ Association, one of the government doctors’ associations said that they kept waiting with the hope that their issues would be resolved and addressed amicably. They were assured that the matter would be taken up at the Cabinet meeting and a final solution would arrive soon, but there was no development concerning the issues. He further said that the doctors had withdrawn from going on a strike twice on the government’s request and assurance, but were told that approval from the finance department was pending.

Source: The Indian Express