Striking doctors take out silent procession in Vadodara

Vadodara, May 27 (UNI) Health services in most parts of this city were cripped with over 500 private doctors keeping their clinics closed today in response to the one-day strike call given by the Vadodara chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to express their solidarity with the striking medicos across the country over the OBC quota issue.

About 1000 doctors, including private practitioners, took out a silent procession from the premier SSG civil hospital and went round the city to register their protest against the proposed OBC quota in central educational institutions.

According to Junior Doctors' Association (JDA) president Dhiren Thakkar, a total of 13 doctors' associations also participated in the IMA-organised rally.

Meanwhile, the indefinite strike by the resident doctors of SSG civil hospital entered the fifth day today. The striking doctors were also on a relay hunger strike in support of their demands since May 24.

When asked, SSG hospital in-charge superintendent Dr R N Daveswar denied reports that poor patients from far off places and neighbouring states were being sent back home without treatment.

Despite the strike by 400 resident and 280 intern doctors, Dr Daveswar said, all emergency departments were running round the clock under the direct supervision of senior doctors. ''We have requisitioned 53 doctors, including 20 specialists, and also got sufficient number of laboratory and X-ray technicians from outside to effectively deal with the situation,'' he claimed.

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