JUDA responds to criticism with counters

Hyderabad: An uneasy silence pervades in most government hospitals irrespective of how one views the situation.

Even as the junior doctors continue with their strike, there is no denying the fact that flaws do exist in the present health care policy.

The JUDA, which is spearheading the month-old strike, has its own reasons to stick to the demands, which includes scraping of temporary placements in rural areas.

They wonder why the government is trying to suppress the voice of junior doctors by means of threats. This comes even as the Court granted the striking medicos 48 hours to call of their strike and resume duties.

Here is how the JUDA personnel have responded to select questions on the entire episode, including issues revolving around GO 1022?

Why is the government trying to impose temporary rural services for medicos when they are ready to work for the government in rural areas?
What should not miss the eye is that in the name of urban services, doctors are being posted in urban areas. Contrary to the general perception, there is tremendous competition for the post of civil assistant surgeons. Around 16,000 applied for 1100 posts that are vacant. Moreover, each PHC has two doctors.

When the government can post doctors on a permanent basis like with other departments, why is it that they are only hiring temporary doctors?
This is its biggest failure and also reflects poorly about the supervisory system that is in force. Moreover, when it cannot compel permanent doctors to do their work, how can they expect temporary doctors to experiment with the lives of the poorer sections of the society?

Are they in tune with established MCI norms?
MCI makes it clear that registration should be done immediately after the students get through the examination. As far as MCI is concerned there is no mention of rural service anywhere. Even the Centre has not mandated MBBS students and temporary doctors to be sent for rural services.

What about compulsory rural service programs in 70 countries?
The fact of the matter is that it is voluntary rural service programmes that are being pursued abroad.

What about the possible impact on public health?
This is precisely where the crux of the mater lies. There is over-dependence on temporary doctors as the recruitment in health services are done shabbily, which explains the vacancies that exist despite the willingness of the doctors in the specialist’s category. If temporary recruitments are taken up, permanent recruitments will take a huge hit, which will further hamper regular services. To put it bluntly, the government is experimenting with the people’s health.