No water, no work; GMC doctors strike from today

PANJIM: Close on the heels of State government employees giving a pen down notice on August 18 demanding wage parity, Goa Medical College and Hospital Resident doctors today threatened to go on an “indefinite strike” from tomorrow, alleging total apathy and lethargy on the part of the authorities. Doctors that spoke to Herald have alleged that there was no proper water supply for the past three months with water of questionable quality being supplied by tankers. And, for the past couple of days there was no water at all. The lack of electricity and water in the GMC had been highlighted by the media, but the Health Minister Laxmikant Parsekar had denied that there were water problems and said everything was under control.

“…due to this indifferent attitude of the concerned authorities towards the most basic necessities of resident doctors, we doctors are left with no choice, but to take the drastic step we wanted to avoid till date after issuing the 24 hour memorandum to concerned authorities all resident doctors will be going on strike from 14/08/2014 if the concerned problem is not addressed immediately”.

There are around 200 resident doctors who stay in the hostel due to their work timings. They work in the 25 wards and corresponding OPDs (not all departments have OPDs) in the 1555-bedded hospital. There some 100 to 150 admissions per day.

“Today we sat and have worked out a contingency plan. But I am hopeful that they will join duty. We have restored water through tankers today morning and the PWD has promised to regularise the water supply,” Dean Dr Pradip Naik told Herald.

He said the resident doctors under GARD had given a written strike notice threatening an indefinite strike because of the water problem, but expressed his optimism that they would not go ahead with the strike.

However, he said arrangements had been made. “We have worked out a plan to take care of critical areas, OPDs and wards. The consultants, professors, and assistant professors will be on duty,” he said.   

The memorandum submitted today says: “This is to bring to your notice about the chronic water supply crisis faced by the resident doctors of Goa Medical College in the RMO’s hostel. The water supply in the RMO’s hostel has been insufficient and erratic since the commencement of construction work in front of the hostel. We have been facing this problem since the pipeline has been changed from broad gauge with 24 hours water supply to a smaller meter gauge with water supply twice a day.” 

The doctors claim that the temporary arrangement made by authorities -- water tankers -- have been erratic and grossly insufficient. The timings are “not suiting the needs of resident doctors. As a result many doctors are forced to attend duty without using the basic amenities in the hostel while some have no choice but to utilize duty room lavatories.” 

Questioning the purity, the doctors have alleged that for the past 8 months water supply has been in the form of tankers. They allege that the hostel also lacks a purifying system. 

“RMO (GARD) are forced to drink this impure water and despite repeated requests to authorities dated on 26/12/2013, no concrete step has been taken by the concerned authorities towards the issue, due to this indifferent attitude of the concerned authorities towards the most basic necessities of resident doctors…” says the memorandum.