DMK chief M Karunanidhi has suggested that doctors in private practices who were opposing the National Council for Human Resources in Health (NCHRH) Bill 2011, should meet the Union Health Minister to solve the issue.
Karunanidhi recalled the doctors’ statements that the national eligibility, entrance exam and reduction of the five-and-a-half-year undergraduate course to three-and-a-half for doctors who will serve in rural areas would degrade the quality of the medical profession, and their further claim that the Clinical Establishments (Registration and Regulation) Act 2010 will commercialise the service sector.
“The Union Health Minister is a talented person who will listen to their demands. Therefore, the doctors and the Health Minister should hold talks,” he said.
He also alleged that the AIADMK was not releasing the State’s share for the stretch which was extended after protests from Washermanpet to Thiruvotriyur. He also brought up the issue of five Universities in the State remaining headless and claimed that red-tapism followed by the government was the reason behind that.
Karunanidhi also enlisted the series of measures including the formation and function of TN Coconut Farmers Welfare Board in the backdrop of falling coconut prices. He demanded that the coconut farmers that were arrested should be released immediately and the State should hold talks with them.