Karnataka Government Medical Officers’ Association (KGMOA) has announced a phased strike starting tomorrow (Wednesday) across the state, for their long-pending demands. This will include all Bengaluru doctors and healthcare staff, who will begin a protest on March 11, which will continue till March 15. The KGMOA and Karnataka State Health and Medical Education Department Employees’ Central Association, along with other staff bodies, announced the statewide agitation on Monday, accusing the government of repeatedly delaying action on their demands.
During a press conference on Monday, the association leaders stressed that they held several rounds of talks with ministers; however, their concerns remain unresolved.
How Are They Planning The Strike Starting March 11
First Phase – March 11-15
In the first phase, which will be held from March 11 to March 15, we will see doctors and employees across the district, taluk hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres and dispensaries, wearing black armbands. Moreover, they will also suspend outpatient services and will only provide emergency care.
Second Phase – March 16
In the second phase, health department staff across Karnataka will launch an indefinite strike until their demands are met and issues are resolved.
What Are The Doctors Demanding?
Their list of demands includes:
- Regular supply of medicines to government hospitals
- Amending cadre and recruitment rules, which they alleged have not been revised since 1973
- publishing updated seniority lists
- Granting pending promotions, which they claim were stalled for 5 years
Karnataka Health Minister Rao Hopeful of Resolving Issues
Karnataka Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao on Tuesday expressed hope to find a solution to the issues raised by KGMOA and other health department employees’ associations, as they have called for a statewide strike.
“We have discussed with doctors and healthcare workers. We have spoken to them twice. Yesterday, we communicated the government’s actions to them through our commissioner,” Rao said in the Legislative Assembly.
He said, “Their demands include issues pending for several years, such as Cadre and Recruitment Rules, the seniority list, and discrepancies in the last counselling, among others. We plan to resolve them. There are several other issues, I don’t want to discuss now.”
“We have called them for a meeting with the chief minister today. We will discuss and resolve what we can in the interest of the department and, most importantly, the public. I’m confident that the issue will be resolved soon,” he added.
