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Sambalpur/Burla, Jan 4: The Junior Doctors Association (JDA) of Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR), Burla threatened to launch a cease work agitation from January 12 seeking fulfillment of their 10-point charter of demands.
The JDA’s demands comprised installation of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machine in the health centre, delegation of financial and administrative power to VIMSAR authority and shifting of female medicine ward to the new building, strengthening the security on the premises of the institution, 24-hour power and drinking water supply to all departments in the institution and making the regional diagnostic centre functional round the clock. The JDA’s ultimatum has plunged the hospital into unrest as an agitation by the junior doctors might seriously hit patient care in the hospital
The doctors also demanded a raise in the library fund and the number of library staff for better teaching facilities, filling up of vacant teaching and non-teaching posts of the institution and setting up a good canteen on the premises for doctors and staff.
“VIMSAR caters to health service of the people of Western Orissa besides the patients of neighbouring Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. However, the health center has been a victim of negligence. The institute has been declared as an autonomous institution and the name of the health centre was also changed from VSS Medical College Hospital to VIIMSAR,” said President of JDA Shankar Ramchandani while addressing a press conference here Monday.
“But the government only changed the name and no other improvement work was done for this important health centre of the region,” he said adding patients and students of the institution are suffering because of the negligence.
“If our demands are not met by January 11, we will resort to cease work from January 12. The, post graduate, undergraduate students and House Surgeon Association have also agreed to support us,” Ramchandani said.
Director of VIMSAR, Sonamali Nag said, “Steps are being taken to meet their demands. However, it will take some time.” They would discuss with junior doctors over this issue, Nag said.
The JDA has also submitted memorandum to the Chief Minister and health minister through the director of VIMSAR in this regard.
Before meeting reporters, the junior doctors gheraoed the director, superintendent and principal of the institution over the issue. PNN
