Medicos continue stir, leave patients to suffer

Bangalore, Feb 25 (UNI) Junior doctors, who are on a strike in protest against 'assault' on a colleague, stayed off from their duties for the fourth day today, causing hardships to hundreds of out-patients in the Government Bowring Hospital here.

The agitating doctors, after a meeting with Governor Rameshwar Thakur last night, had agreed to withdraw the stir and resume services from today. However, they did not turn up for duty, Hospital sources said. Striking medicos were demanding a written assurance from the government, ensuring on-duty protection.

During the meeting, the Governor had assured to look into their demands, which included providing protection to doctors and paramedical staff and promulgating an Ordinance making assault against medicos a cognisable offense, on the lines of Andhra Pradesh.

Hospital Resident Medical Officer (RMO) S Rajanna said ''the doctors selected a new set of leaders this morning and decided to continue their agitation till they received a written assurance.'' A meeting would be convened to resolve the issue, he added.

The junior doctors went on a strike on February 21 after relatives of a pregnant woman, who died during delivery, attacked the doctors and paramedical staff, blaming them for her death.

Doctors across the state and the four hospitals attached to the Bangalore Medical College, had expressed their solidarity with the strikers.

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