Junior doctors (JD) are in the limelight for all wrong reasons. While no one appreciates their expertise and dedication more than British public, strike which should be weapon of last resort is welded like shield to settle dispute that should be resolved behind closed doors, through negotiations, understanding and sacrifice. It seems BMA is acting like Trade Union rather than professional body.
Public servants like police are not allowed to strike, deemed to be working in essential services. Government is seriously thinking putting medical and transport workers in same category. If JD go on all out strike, not attending patients in emergency which may lead to casualties, this will give Government perfect excuse to put all doctors in essential service category and impose new contracts which will put JD between devil and deep blue sea, either accept or resign.
This will be real test, as not many JD would put their hard earned career to test, as many have aspiration to be consultants, GPs earning salaries above 100K, thus putting them on top of financial and social league, as doctors enjoy God like status in many countries, although medical profession is riddled with corruption in developing countries throughout Africa and Asia, in line with dishonesty that prevails in society like cancer. Fortunately medical profession here is clean, dedicated and patient oriented. Let’s hope that sanity will prevail, resulting in an amicable settlement that every one wishes.
Bhupendra M. Gandhi
By email
