Manipur doctors’ strike enters day 14, AMHSDA says won’t back down till govt acts

The Govt has decided to hire doctors on a daily wage basis to tackle the medical crisis in the state

Health services in Manipur has been paralysed in most parts of the state, particularly the hill areas because of the agitation by government doctors under the banner of All Manipur Health Services Doctors Association (AMHSDA) that entered day 14 today. But with the government refusing to accept the demands of the agitating doctors, AMHSDA has said that they would not back down and end their strike unless and until the state government agrees to their demands.

Acknowledging the fact that people are suffering because of the agitation, AMHSDA general secretary Lolee Pa Mao said that the doctors feel bad but cannot concede since the government is not considering the demands of AMHSDA. According to Lolee P Mao the government is not taking interest in the demands put forward by AMHSDA.

Speaking to Northeast Live, regarding Chief Minister N Biren Singh’s statement deciding to hire doctors on daily wage basis, the AMHSDA general secretary said, “Now, it is quite obvious that the government is not taking interest on the AMHSDA demand after giving many assurances and promises. They (Govt) are denying that they have been in talks and we are not ready for any solution. Now, it is very clear that they (Govt) are not interested in the affair of doctors, in our well-being and services of the doctors.

Mao alleged, “In the state of settling or negotiating, the government is putting salt in the open wound and making the agitating doctors very disappointed and very angry.”

The AMHSDA general secretary added, “Let them appoint doctors on the basis of daily wages or anything, As of now they have already taken 200 doctors on contract basis saying them that they will be given Rs 27, 500, as if doctors are very very cheap in Manipur. This is not even the salary of peon or chowkidaar in Manipur. It is very demeaning to our doctors’ association.”

When sought his reactions about the sufferings of the people owing to the agitation, Lolee P Mao said, “Actually people in the valley they suffer less, because there are some alternative hospitals like JNIMS, RIMS or like other big big hospitals, but whereas in the hills there is no such facility and the people of the hills suffer the most.”

However, affirming the AMHSDA stand against the alleged government inaction, Lolee P Mao said,”We feel pity, because we know they are suffering. We agree that they are suffering, but since the government has not taken interest and is not considering the hill people, we feel very bad, we feel very sorry for the poor people, but since the government is not taking interest, we cannot concede to such sympathy.”

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