Doctors protest Bill/Act, suspend service for a day
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, June 25 2012: Like in other parts of the country, doctors in Manipur ceased service and staged a one-day token protest/medical strike against the introduction of the National Commission for Human Resources in Health (NCHRH) Bill-2011 .

under the aegis of Indian Medical Association, Manipur State branch medical practitioners today staged protest demonstration in front of the Lamphelpat office of Medical Directorate from 9 am onward.

The protest was also against the Government's Clinical Establishment Act and alleged attempt to dissolve the Medical Council of India.

Speaking to newspersons at the protest venue, IMA Manipur unit officials contended that Government of India's ambiguous policies amount to throttling the medical profession.

They asserted that doctors all over the country are ready to face any eventualities in their determination to foil passing of the legislation as the policy would not only be an affront to the medical profession but would also prohibit the MCI from functioning as an independent body.

State doctors on strike against the proposed legislation

While the protesting doctors alleged that the Bill testify sinister intention to centralise various departments including the medical sector, a statement issued by the IMA unit pointed out that NCHRH bill, if passed, would be a super-aching body on all the councils of medical profession.

It means that the powers of medical Council of India, Dental Council, Pharmacist Council, nursing Council, etc will be diluted and all these will be governed by the proposed Commission which will be managed by the nominees of the Government and not be elected persons of the medical profession, explained the IMA unit statement issued jointly by its president Dr Kh Palin Singh and secretary Dr S Gojendra Singh.

It is said that action taken by the National Commission will not be amendable even in the court of law.

With regard to the Clinical Establishment Act, the statement said the legislation will not let any doctor with limited resources (single doctor) practice medicine comfortably.

Running our clinics in accordance with the provisions of this Act will mean having fully equipped clinics like nursing homes, etc, and therefore the cost of treatment or stabilization of any kind of emergencies will increase manifold, it added.

On the third issue of staging the protest regarding dissolution of MCI and the third consecutive term of the 'autocratically appointed' Board of Governors, the IMA unit expressed that restoration of democratic set-up of MCI is very important for working and medical education can be controlled by only medical graduates.

While reaffirming that IMA would continue to oppose any attempt to dilute autonomy of the Councils, it further conveyed that copies of memorandum highlighting plight of the medical practitioners would be handed over to the Governor, the Chief Minister and the health Minister of Manipur tomorrow.

during the protest demonstration doctors also highlighted demands for restoration of the independent status of the Council, enhancing budget for health care from the present 2.1 percent to 12 percent of GDP, denouncing throttling of the doctors' voices, opposition of the proposed Bills/Act, and others.