IMA supports Jr doctors' agitation, calls state wide boycott

Hyderabad, Dec 15 (UNI) Expressing solidarity with the agitating junior doctors, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) state chapter today said the doctors would also boycott duties in all the hospitals in Andhra Pradesh from December 17.

Addressing a press conference here, IMA representative A Appa Rao said the doctors demanded that the government must promulgate an ordinance to book cases against those who attacked the junior doctors and post Special Protection Force (SPF) personnel in all government hospitals.

Stating that the doctors would boycott the 'in-patient and out-patient' services exempting the emergency services from December 17, he said the IMA was also demanding the arrest of those who attacked the doctors at maternity hospital yesterday.

Alleging that the state government and the High Court were responsible for the attack on the doctors, Mr Rao said the IMA would meet Chief minister Y S Rajasekahra Reddy to explain its demands.

Meanwhile, the junior doctors at Osmania and Gandhi medical colleges boycotted duties in the city.

The patients who were coming to the maternity hospital were facing problems due to the non availability of medical services.

Meanwhile, another incident of attack on doctors came to light at the ESI hospital this morning when the relatives of a patient attacked a senior doctor Narasimha Rao.

Police said the relatives brought Hanumanta Naik to ESI hospital who was injured in a road accident. The irate relatives attacked Mr Rao, who received minor injuries, When he advised them to shift the injured to another hospital.

UNI