the goan I network
PANAJI
Nearly a thousand doctors that went on a strike opposing the National Medical Commission Bill, withdrew their protest by afternoon following the decision of the central government to refer the bill to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Though OPDs of most of the private hospitals were affected till afternoon, emergency services were functional.
Speaking to media persons, IMA Goa President Dr Ajay Pedenkar said, "The NMC bill is pro-private management paving the way for widespread corruption. It removes all regulations for starting a medical college and furthermore any private medical college can raise its undergraduate and postgraduate seats by itself with only up to 40 per cent of seats being regulated by the government. However, for remaining 60 per cent, private colleges will fix the rates."
Pointing out that there are loopholes in financial penalties which will result in corruption, he said, "This will result in medical education in the country becoming more expensive placing the lower socio economic groups at a great disadvantage. Nonetheless, at any given point, only 5 states will be represented in NMC while the other 24 will not have any representation."
The doctors during the protest also said that no universities have a representation in NMC and only one per state will be represented in an advisory body called Medical Advisory Council.
However, government run Goa Medical College and other government hospitals were functional.
"We are also of the opinion that NMC Bill is not in favour of the medical professionals. But since we are in the government set up and don't want to put patients to inconvenience, we had decided not to shut down the OPDs" said GARD President Dr Akshay Naik.
PANAJI
Nearly a thousand doctors that went on a strike opposing the National Medical Commission Bill, withdrew their protest by afternoon following the decision of the central government to refer the bill to the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
Though OPDs of most of the private hospitals were affected till afternoon, emergency services were functional.
Speaking to media persons, IMA Goa President Dr Ajay Pedenkar said, "The NMC bill is pro-private management paving the way for widespread corruption. It removes all regulations for starting a medical college and furthermore any private medical college can raise its undergraduate and postgraduate seats by itself with only up to 40 per cent of seats being regulated by the government. However, for remaining 60 per cent, private colleges will fix the rates."
Pointing out that there are loopholes in financial penalties which will result in corruption, he said, "This will result in medical education in the country becoming more expensive placing the lower socio economic groups at a great disadvantage. Nonetheless, at any given point, only 5 states will be represented in NMC while the other 24 will not have any representation."
The doctors during the protest also said that no universities have a representation in NMC and only one per state will be represented in an advisory body called Medical Advisory Council.
However, government run Goa Medical College and other government hospitals were functional.
"We are also of the opinion that NMC Bill is not in favour of the medical professionals. But since we are in the government set up and don't want to put patients to inconvenience, we had decided not to shut down the OPDs" said GARD President Dr Akshay Naik.
