Hepatitis B outbreak: Docs threaten to go on strike

Dr Shah,president,AMA,told Newsline that the recent outbreak of Hepatitis B in the state has nothing to do with practices followed by the allopathic practitioners. “The government must crack down on quacks who are the sole reason for this epidemic,” he said.

It may be noted here that state Health Minister Jaynarayan Vyas had earlier categorically stated that the outbreak was a result of infected syringes/needles used by doctors.

When asked about the FIRs registered against a large number of MBBS doctors (some of whom have been arrested also) and the huge quantity of bio-medical waste being found,Dr Ramesh said,“A majority of culprits in these cases are government servants,be it primary health centres or the Civil Hospital.” Shah said the private medical practitioners were not responsible for the outbreak. “If the doctors’ ‘harassment’ continues,we will launch a state-wide agitation,” he said.