Doctors strike work to protest ''harassment'' under PNDT Act

Gandhinagar, Jun 13 (UNI) About 1000 gynaecologists and radiologists from all over Gujarat today took out a rally in the capital against the ''harassment'' meted out to them as part of the Government's action under the Pre-Natal Diagonistic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 2002.

Dr Jignish Shah, President of the Ahmedabad Obstetrics and Gynaecological Society (AOGS) said,''We are very much for implementation of the PNDT Act and feel that the government should take all measures to stop the practice of sex selective abortions.

But as of today, the gynaecologists and radiologists are being harrassed for not filling up a 19-column form, which has been made mandatory before carrying out a sonography test.'' ''We cannot be charged for not filling up a form properly. Our machines are being confisticated, which is too heavy a penalty.

They can impose a fine, if need,''he suggested.

''This is a token strike--we plan to go on indefinite strike, if such things continue,'' he told UNI.

Dr Shah said a delegation of doctors will meet state Health Minister Ashok Bhatt and give him a memorandum this evening.

Meanwhile, services remained affected in major hospitals as the doctors stayed away from the OPD. ''We did not run out our OPD today. But, we are attending to our indoor patients,'' Dr Harsh Desai of Sterling Hospital said.

Same was echoed by a doctor at the Apollo Hospital.''We cannot close our emergency services, however, the OPD was closed.'' UNI MMG PM RL HT1620