Medical and dental college students of Tamil Nadu, on strike since last Wednesday, observed fast on their college campuses today to press for the acceptance of their demands.

The talks between the striking medicos and the Directorate of Medical Education (DME) have failed, according to DME sources. The DME, Dr. C. Ravindranath had invited the representatives of the striking medicos for negotiations today after failing to get them to the negotiation table on Saturday.

The representatives of the striking medicos rejected the DME claim that the Tamil Nadu government and itself would seek the Medical Council of India (MCI) recognition to the 79 medical and dental courses being pursued in the various government colleges. The rejection came after the representatives pointed out to the DME that there had been no action taken by the DME and the Tamil Nadu government to see that the Medical Council of India (MCI) recognition to 79 medical and dental courses being taught at various government colleges. The representatives claimed that the strike would continue till such time that the DME and the Tamil Nadu government initiated measures to seek recognition to the courses as well as see to it that their stipend is hiked while cutting on the fees. They also demanded that the government ensures that no more medical and dental colleges in the private sector are given permission.

The DME speaking to Pharmabiz.com claimed that the striking medicos have shown an adamant stand at the negotiation. He said that while he asked the representatives to withdraw the strike and talk to the state government, thereby bringing solace to some extent , the representatives rejected the demand outright. “It seems they are wanting to continue the strike without giving the DME and the state government a chance to explain their stand,” he told Pharmabiz.com.

On the other hand, the State Health Minister, S. Semmalai has extended invitation to the representatives to hold negotiations with him. According to a Health Ministry communiqué , the state Health Minister is ready for negotiation and has also urged the medicos to withdraw the strike while negotiating with the government.

Work in government hospitals in the state has been completely paralysed due to the strike. Inspite of the state government effort to bring in outside hand to manage the show, serpentine queues have been reported in the outpatient department at almost all the government hospitals in the state, according to reports reaching here. The reports claimed that there was some control in the government hospitals in Chennai. The government is initiating efforts to bring in more outside hand to manage the show. The reports however did not maintain whether surgeries in the government hospitals were affected, though unofficial reports claim that most surgeries have been postponed due to the strike.

Meanwhile, the Madras High Court, on a writ petition from medicos, has directed the state government not to evict medical students from their respective hostels. The Court in its direction observed that it would be unlawful to evict the students when the government should extend a negotiating arm to bring about an amicable solution to the problem rather than create more problems by evicting the students from their hostels.