Healthcare services in Rajasthan have been severely impacted as 7,000 resident doctors from government hospitals across the state went on strike, demanding better security, increased stipends, and revisions to the mandatory bond policy, among other issues, IE reported. The strike, which began on October 19, has caused widespread disruption, particularly at Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Hospital in Jaipur.
At SMS Hospital, more than 100 surgeries were postponed on Tuesday, affecting the general wards and intensive care unit (ICU) the most. Patients who had traveled long distances for treatment have found themselves stranded without care. Parshuram Meena, a 56-year-old patient from Sawai Madhopur, expressed his frustration after his scheduled kidney surgery was delayed due to the strike.
“I came to Jaipur on Monday, but I still have not been able to meet a doctor,” Meena said. “My surgery was supposed to happen on Wednesday, but now I’m thinking of returning next week. It’s a helpless situation,” he told IE.
Despite government appeals for the striking doctors to return to work, the resident doctors say they have not received any assurances from the authorities. Dr. Saket Dhadhich, media adviser for the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD), explained that the doctors are aware of the difficulties patients face but feel their concerns have been neglected.
“We do not want to continue with the strike because we know the problems patients face. But the government has not given us any assurances,” said Dr. Dhadhich. He also detailed the doctors’ demands, which include better security measures and infrastructure in medical colleges, a stipend increase that has been overdue for four years, and the recruitment of junior specialists across departments.
However, the principal of SMS Medical College, Deepak Maheshwari, criticized the frequent strikes, noting this was the eighth such action in a year and a half. He expressed frustration that the doctors had not resumed work despite the government addressing many of their demands.
“This is the eighth strike in one and a half years. The government accepted many of their demands, yet they continue the strike. Should we stop attending to patients for every inconvenience?” Maheshwari said.
The strike has also extended to government hospitals in districts such as Ajmer, Udaipur, and Sikar, where routine surgeries and patient care have been postponed. While emergency and trauma wards continue to function, the absence of resident doctors is putting immense strain on the remaining hospital staff, who are working extended hours to manage the workload.