Doctors in Goa, who called for a strike on Monday after their free accommodation privilege was revoked, resumed work on Tuesday in the city's COVID-19 hospitals and facilities. This brief suspension disrupted the functioning of two COVID-19 facilities in the state. However, authorities of the South Goa district stated that the medical staff soon reported on duty the following day.

Duty over Privilege

[rebelmouse-proxy-image https://media.rbl.ms/image?u=%2F_media%2Fbs%2Fimg%2Farticle%2F2020-07%2F18%2Ffull%2F1595014470-7297.jpg&ho=https%3A%2F%2Fbsmedia.business-standard.com&s=162&h=781cf26abbfa73693f926d0e0c9b812aca8eb3c298e73febbfef23e02bc85c75&size=980x&c=2481477111 photo_credit="bsmedia.business-standard.com" dam="0" pin_description="" photo_credit_src="https://bsmedia.business-standard.com/_media/bs/img/article/2020-07/18/full/1595014470-7297.jpg" crop_info="%7B%22image%22%3A%20%22https%3A//media.rbl.ms/image%3Fu%3D%252F_media%252Fbs%252Fimg%252Farticle%252F2020-07%252F18%252Ffull%252F1595014470-7297.jpg%26ho%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fbsmedia.business-standard.com%26s%3D162%26h%3D781cf26abbfa73693f926d0e0c9b812aca8eb3c298e73febbfef23e02bc85c75%26size%3D980x%26c%3D2481477111%22%7D" expand=1] bsmedia.business-standard.com

"Some disruption in services at Covid hospitals was reported on Tuesday afternoon as Resident Doctors had withdrawn services to demand separate accommodation," South Goa District Collector said in a statement here, adding that doctors had resumed work. On Monday, Resident Doctors at the Employee State Insurance Hospital and South Goa District Hospital stopped work to protest against the state government's decision to get them to vacate official accommodation or pay rent from their own pockets.

The district collector further pointed out that though resident doctors were on a strike, senior consultants and Directorate of Health Services doctors attended to the patients, ensuring that this quandary did not harm the health of patients in the state hospitals. "The Health Department and district administration is committed to provide best healthcare in times of Covid-19 pandemic," read the collector's statement.

Goa's coronavirus cases total has clocked over 44,189, including 2,209 active cases and 618 deaths. The state's recuperation rate has zoomed up to 93.6% with 41,362 recoveries.

-With inputs from IANS