Shimla, 21 August:Â Patients in Himachal Pradesh have finally got relief as doctors resumed OPD services on Wednesday after a week-long strike. The strike, which had severely disrupted medical services across the state, was withdrawn after the doctors reached an agreement with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu during a meeting at the Secretariat.
The doctors, who have been demanding stringent security measures in the wake of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, were seeking a guarantee of their safety from the state government. The strike was joined by major medical bodies, including the Association of Medical and Dental College Teachers Association, Resident Doctors Association and Medical Officers Association.
The situation worsened on Tuesday when doctors took out a protest rally from the IGMC to the Secretariat in a show of solidarity and attempted to surround the building. For nearly two hours, the protesting doctors stood outside demanding a direct dialogue with the Chief Minister.
Responding to their demands, Chief Minister Sukhu assured the doctors that the government was fully committed to their safety. He promised to issue notification for the Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property (Amendment) Act 2017, which aims to protect healthcare workers and their work environment.
Following this assurance, the doctors withdrew from the secretariat and called a meeting at around 3 pm. The meeting, chaired by Medical and Dental College Teachers Association president Balveer S. Verma, took a unanimous decision to end the strike and resume OPD services as normal.
Dr. Manish Gupta, social secretary of the association, confirmed that the decision to return to work was taken jointly, ending the strike that affected healthcare delivery across the state.
Now that the doctors are returning to their work, medical services in Himachal Pradesh are expected to return to normal, bringing relief to thousands of patients who depend on these vital services daily.
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