APDA call off mass leave as govt intervenes

ITANAGAR, Oct 6: The Arunachal Pradesh Doctors Association (APDA) has called off the proposed mass casual leave on Oct 7 and 9 after the government assured to take up the issue of amendment of APHS cadre rules 2000 and framing of recruitment rules in the next cabinet meeting.
Parliamentary Secretary Phurpa Tsering in a message to the APDA appealed the doctors to call off the mass casual leave as their case would be placed before the cabinet following which the organization decided to call off the proposed mass casual leave.
Earlier, the health department had threatened to invoke Essential Services Maintenance (Arunachal Pradesh) Act against striking doctors.
Mass casual leave by the Doctors will attract disciplinary proceedings by the Health department and govt. could invoke provisions of ESMA, read a statement by the special secretary, Health Dr Tapasya Raghav as the government directed all the doctors not to resort to the proposed mass casual leave in the interest of public service.
Meanwhile, Specialist sub-cadre doctors, 74 General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs) with Post Graduate degrees and dental doctors with PG degrees working across the state in a message said that they will not be a part of any democratic movement including the proposed mass casual leave by Arunachal Pradesh Doctors Association (APDA).
The Specialist sub-cadre doctors, GDMO and others claimed that the Draft Amendment of APHS Rules 2000 which is in final stages was done without incorporating the grievances of doctors of all the sub cadres.