Tamil Nadu Govt doctors threaten to strike over pay, promotion

Chennai: A section of govt doctors from the Federation of All Government Doctors' Associations (FOGDA) threatened to boycott work, barring emergency care, at govt hospitals from Feb 27, if the govt does not offer a pay rise and timely promotions.A press release from the association said health minister Ma Subramanian had assured the doctors that he would speak to the chief minister for a solution. "We have not heard back. So we have decided to boycott all routine work, excluding emergency," said FOGDA convenor Dr T Balakrishnan.Doctors said they will intensify the strike to a fast-unto-death in the first week of March. "Late CM M Karunanidhi issued a GO 354 that fulfils all our demands. We want that implemented," he said. TNN