The medical fraternity actively participated in the ‘Maha Vaidya Garjana’ called by the Indian Medical Association’s(IMA) Vijayawada unit against the state bifurcation, here Tuesday.
Hundreds of doctors, medical and nursing students, lab technicians and staff of more than 300 private hospitals hit the road in protest of the bifurcation of the state.
They participated in a massive rally from the IMA hall to the Swarajya Maidan Tuesday. More than 300 private hospitals remained closed as a part of this protest. It is the second such agitation called by the IMA within a month. A mega rally was organised on the MG Road on August 6 at the call of IMA, Vijayawada unit. Addressing the gathering at the relay fast camp on Bandar Road, IMA Vijayawada president Dr PV Ramana Murthy said that lakhs of people from Seemandhra districts would not be able to avail medical facilities in specialty hospitals like NIMS, Niloufer, Gandhi and Osmania in Hyderabad in the wake of bifurcation.
He expressed concerns over the medical facilities being availed by the Arogyasri White Card holders in the Seemandhra region, saying that it would not be possible in case of division of the state.
Murthy also talked about the career prospects of young doctors of Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema districts pursuing specialty medical courses in Hyderabad. He said that around 85 per cent of the specialty courses in Andhra Pradesh are centred in Hyderabad and if division becomes a reality, it would adverselly affect the careers of doctors from the Seemandhra and Rayalaseema regions.
Dr Ramana Murthy said the doctors of Seemandhra districts strongly oppose the bifurcation of the state and demanded that the Central government withdraw the process of the division of the State with immediate effect.
IMA state president Dr P Venkateswarlu, IMA Vijayawada secretary V Sridevi, former IMA national president Dr Samaram, IMA Vijayawada Joint secretary Dr Ravindranath and several hundred doctors participated in the protest rally and relay fast in front of the sub-collector’s office.