Health minister meets striking doctors

Assam Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma today met striking junior doctors of Assam Medical College Hospital (AMCH) here, but they refused to suspend their protest agitation against the killing of a woman postgraduate medical student.
The minister assured the striking doctors that he would take steps to fulfil their demands by Tuesday.
"Give me time till Tuesday and I assure you that you will see action being taken," Sarma told the doctors.
The Junior Doctors Association, spearheading the agitation, however, refused to suspend their agitation till concrete action was taken.
The junior doctors are demanding punishment to the accused, stepped up security within the campus, proper installation of CCTV cameras for round the clock surveillance.

A first-year obstetrics and gynaecology postgraduate student, Sarita Tasniwal, was found dead on Friday with a surgical knife stabbed inside her neck on the bed of the doctors resting room inside the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).

The ICU's ward boy Khiru Mech, who had allegedly tried to rape her, along with four others, were arrested.
The striking doctors were also demanding resignation of AMCH Principal A K Adhikary, Vice Principal Hemchandra Kalita and Superintendent M Patowary and police re-verification of all ward boys and lower grade staff, a spokesman of the doctors said.
The health minister also reviewed the situation with senior doctors, district administration and police officials.

He directed senior doctors and professors, who were attending to patients, to ensure that patients did not suffer.