Govt to terminate agitating docs, recruit new medicos: Ramadoss

New Delhi, May 31: The Health Ministry would serve termination notices to agitating doctors if they do not join duty today and start recruiting new medicos on permanent basis.

Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss told reporters that the government would start serving notices to the doctors who have not joined duty by this afternoon which would be followed by termination letters tomorrow.

''We can't wait endlessly. The Prime Minister has asked me to do whatever necessary to restore normalcy in hospitals. Even the Supreme Court had asked the doctors to join duty. If they are still not doing it, then we will take all necessary measures,'' Dr Ramadoss said.

After visiting patients at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, the epicentre of the anti-quota agitation this morning, the Minister said a lot of doctors have already joined duty at AIIMS, Safdarjung hospital today and many more might join by evening.

However, he has instructed the hospital authorities to take all steps necessary to deal effectively with those who have not joined so that patients do not suffer.

''We will take a number of steps from tomorrow, including terminating the agitating doctors, enlisting and recruiting new doctors on permanent basis who are willing to work in these prestigious institutions. Services of retired doctors would also be taken. Doctors from army and railway have been kept ready and they would join duty tomorrow.'' Stating that no further deadline would be given to the agitating doctors, he said notices have been already served to many of them.

Besides, he has directed hospital authorities to serve termination notices to doctors who do not join duty by noon today.

When pointed out that the Supreme Court has said no action would be taken against the agitating doctors if they come back to duty within the next three days, the Minister said that he has not seen the order. But since he has the instructions of the Prime Minister to restore normalcy, he would go ahead with whatever has been proposed, he added.

Dr Ramadoss said he would further assess the situation this afternoon by holding the meeting of top officials of various hospitals at the ministry and then suitable action would be taken.

UNI

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