PANAJI
The state administration finally paid heed to the serious concerns raised by the Goa Association of Resident Doctors about the withdrawal accommodation facilities provided to the resident doctors posted at Covid hospitals in Margao, but only after GARD announced that its members would refrain from discharging duties at the ESI Covid Hospital and South Goa District Hospital.
The mounting tension was diffused after a few hours with the South Goa District Collector Ajit Roy announcing that resident doctors rejoined duties on Monday evening.
“Some disruption in the services at Covid hospitals was reported today in the afternoon. Resident Doctors had withdrawn their services demanding separate accommodation. These doctors resumed their duties by the evening hours on Monday. Senior consultants and DHS doctors attended to all the patients during these hours without any inconvenience to any patient,” the South Goa Collector stated in a press release.
Members of GARD confirmed that they have received a satisfactory reply from the government and accordingly, the resident doctors have resumed their duties.
Citing the indifference shown by the state government towards settling the issue of accommodation payment with hotel managements, GARD announced the withdrawal of services by its member resident doctors from ESI Covid Hospital and South Goa District Hospital at Margao from 2 pm on Monday.
The body declared that its members will return to work only after the concerned authorities find a permanent solution to the problem.
GARD had given the authorities time till Monday to resolve the matter of pending dues of the accommodation facilities given to around 50 to 60 resident doctors working at these two Covid hospitals.
The administrators of Covid hospitals had allegedly asked all resident doctors working at these two hospitals to vacate their accommodation by Sunday while assuring them transport to and from Goa Medical College and Hospital, Bambolim. They were told that they could continue using the accommodation if they were willing to bear the cost themselves.
"The authorities seem to have reached an impasse with those providing accommodation and we have been asked by the hotel staff to pay up from today afternoon or vacate our rooms as per the verbal orders received from the Collector's office. As a consequence we have to inform with great remorse that the resident doctors will be withdrawing our services from the said Covid hospitals from 2 pm today and will be returning to our parent departments in Goa Medical College by 4 pm," read the statement issued by GARD on Monday afternoon.
GARD further came down heavily on the apathy and lack of concern shown by the authorities towards its hard-working and dedicated resident doctors, who have reportedly worked despite irregularities in salaries paid to them over the last five months.
