The Legitimate Online
Going down heavy on the protesting doctors, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has decided to invoke Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in various healthcare institutions of state.
The move is being taken after hundreds of people across the valley have been protesting due to non availability of doctors at the health facilities.
“The Government can’t allow the hapless patients to suffer and in order to ensure that there is no disruption of healthcare services, it has been decided that ESMA would be invoked to deal with the strike called by the medicos,” a senior officer in the Health and Medical Education Department said, according to an official handout.
At the city’s main territory mother and child-Lal Ded hospital an infant has died reportedly in absence of doctors triggering massive outrage among the patients and attendants.
“We can’t risk the lives of people. We will invoke ESMA and bring these protesting doctors back on duty for the convenience of patients,” the official said.
Resident doctors at all Government Medical College Hospitals, including Lal Ded, are on indefinite strike since 03 July.
