HOUSE SURGEONS OF SCB MEDICAL COLLEGE TAKE OUT A RALLY IN CUTTACK.

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 10: Medical services have been adversely affected at the three government-run medical colleges and hospitals in the state following a cease work by house surgeons that entered its fifth day today.

As many as 450 house surgeons have ceased work at SCB, MKCG and VSS medical college and hospitals located in Cuttack, Berhampur and Burla, respectively.

The surgeons demand regular appointments through the Odisha Public Service Commission, a hike in stipend to nearly 60 per cent that of an assistant surgeon’s salary, implementation of a transparent transfer policy and dynamic assured career progression.

Junior doctors and students of all the three government colleges and hospital have also extended their support to the agitation.

The surgeons also threatened for an indefinite hunger strike if no step was taken by the state government to fulfil their four-point charter of demands.

“We have given a two-day ultimatum to the state government and will launch an indefinite hunger strike if our demands are not met at the earliest,” said SCB House Surgeons’ Association president Harekrishna Dhal.

In Cuttack, the agitating surgeons took out a rally from Mangalabag to press for their demands.

“The patient turnout at SCB Medical College and Hospital has reduced considerably while a majority of patients are now moving to various private nursing homes for better treatment,” said a doctor requesting anonymity.

Health services, especially at the outpatient department, wards and emergency services have been hit by the strike while senior doctors are doing overtime to meet the crisis.

“The state government should immediately initiate stern action against the agitating house surgeons,” said Sudhanshu Mohan Senapati, an attendant from Balasore.

SCB officials also admitted that the house surgeons strike had compounded the miseries of poor patients.

President of the association’s MKCG branch Nihar Kanta Jena said: “We have decided to intensify our agitation. The government would be held responsible for the consequences,” said .

“Superintendent Ashok Kumar Behera has assured us that he would convey our demands and grievances to the state government,” said Jena.

At VSS Medical College, health care was affected by the agitation.

President of VSS Medical College branch of the surgeons Soumendra Majhi said they would meet the health secretary tomorrow and discuss about their demands.

Additional reporting by Vikash Sharma from Cuttack, Sunil Patnaik from Berhampur and Subrat Mohanty from Sambalpur