IRIA had on August 31 given the first call for an indefinite strike. (Representational Image)
Radiologists across the country today deferred their indefinite strike by a few months, after the government assured them their issues related to a legislation on sex determination would be addressed.
The Indian Radiological & Imaging Association had on Thursday said it would go on a nationwide indefinite strike from Friday, after it failed to reach a resolution with the government.
"We held further talks with the government. We also communicated to our branch presidents the assurances given by the Health Ministry and, barring a few of them, all agreed to defer the strike by at least two-three months and work out a common ground during this time," IRIA President OP Bansal said.
The IRIA had on Thursday held a protest at Jantar Mantar to press for their demand of amending the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, claiming that even clerical mistakes committed during their job like writing wrong names of patients are "equated" with sex-determination.
The top body of radiologists had on August 31 given the first call for an indefinite strike from September 1. Later it held talks with the Health Ministry the same day.
On Thursday, when the final outcome of the meeting came, they had deemed it "unsatisfactory" and decided to go on the nationwide strike.
"Our strike was only for private hospitals and diagnostic centres, as we considered that several patients are suffering from dengue and other diseases, so government hospitals should not be burdened. In government hospitals, radiologists just wore black bands as a mark of protest," Mr Bansal said.
"But after most of our branches decided to defer the strike, so we are doing it, but we have not called it off," he said.
The IRIA chief, however said, "radiologist today performed CT-MRI scans and dealt with emergency cases of only indoor patients."
The apex body of radiologists has alleged that certain provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act are "draconian" and these need to be amended.
"Even minor clerical mistakes committed during our job are equated to sex-determination. And several radiologists have faced harassment and been victimised," he claimed.
Set up in 1930s as Indian Radiological Association, the IRIA has currently about 14,000 members and 27 chapters across the country.
Meanwhile, nurses in government hospitals across the country went on an indefinite strike from tomorrow, at a time when Delhi and several other cities are grappling with rising cases of dengue and chikungunya.