Recently doctors and frontline healthcare workers at a Covid hospital in Delhi threatened to withdraw their services within 48 hours in protest against non-payment of their salaries for over four months. The warning came after a month-long symbolic protest, which did not disrupt services, failed to move the authorities towards the Covid warriors in the capital.
In Goa it is understood that the Goa Association of Resident Doctors (GARD) on Saturday reportedly threatened to withdraw services of 60-odd member doctors from COVID-19 duties if the authorities fail to continue providing accommodation to the resident doctors. It is understood that the authorities have reportedly asked the resident doctors to vacate the accommodation provided to them by Sunday evening or continue to stay by paying from their own pockets.
It is a great irony that one side we shower accolades on the doctors for their dedication of work during the pandemic. Many have also been felicitated by the authorities. But on the other hand, these doctors have been denied the basic amenities like the non-payment of salaries for four months for the doctors in Delhi and not providing proper accommodation for the doctors in Goa. The least that the authorities in Goa can do to minimize the difficulties the doctors face is by providing them accommodation near their place of duty.
ADELMO FERNANDES, Vasco
