Bengaluru, March 10 (NationPress) On Tuesday, the BJP urged the Karnataka state government to address the concerns raised by local doctors after the State Doctors’ Association announced a strike set to commence on Thursday. In response, the government stated it had extended an invitation to the Doctors’ Association for a meeting.

The government remains optimistic that discussions will lead to a resolution of the issues at hand.

During the Assembly's Zero Hour, BJP State General Secretary and MLA V. Sunil Kumar highlighted that doctors throughout the state have initiated a call for an indefinite strike due to various demands.

“The call for an indefinite strike by doctors is alarming. Their primary demands include adequate supplies of medicines, a comprehensive transfer policy, and the filling of vacant positions. They plan to shut down OPD services starting Wednesday, and from the 16th, they intend to cease even emergency services,” he stated, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation.

Sunil Kumar also noted that the president of the Doctors’ Association had informed the government about the impending agitation a month prior, yet no discussions had been initiated.

“I urge the government to avoid drastic actions such as invoking the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) or adopting a confrontational stance. Open dialogue is crucial for resolving these issues,” he added.

Senior Congress MLA Ashok M. Pattan voiced his concerns regarding the impending strike, emphasizing that it would severely impact low-income patients reliant on government healthcare services.

“Given this context, it is essential for the government to engage with the doctors’ community and work towards a resolution. Other issues can be dealt with gradually,” he remarked.

In response to these discussions, Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao mentioned that the government had previously conducted two rounds of discussions with the doctors’ association, outlining the actions taken to address their concerns through the department's Commissioner.

“The doctors are calling for revisions to the Cadre & Recruitment (C&R) rules that have remained unchanged for nearly 12 to 20 years. Both the Chief Minister and I are committed to resolving these matters and are actively working towards it,” he explained.

Rao added that some of the issues raised by the doctors had also surfaced during the counseling process of the previous year, and the government had assured them that corrective actions would be implemented this year.

“We are prepared to arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister to address the issues wherever feasible. It is crucial for the public interest and my responsibilities to monitor the situation closely,” he stated.

The minister expressed confidence that a solution could be reached through dialogue, indicating that the doctors’ representatives had been invited for further discussions later that day.