The Teachers’ and Medical Officers’ Association (TAMOA) has announced the temporary suspension of its ongoing strike at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, with hospital services scheduled to resume from 8:00 AM on Wednesday, September 24. The move comes amid ongoing negotiations and assurances from the institute’s authorities, even as several demands raised by the association remain unresolved. The decision was taken after TAMOA reviewed inputs from the RIMS General Body, which includes representatives from the medical, nursing, non-teaching staff, resident doctors, and students. The association also considered written assurances provided by hospital authorities and deliberated on the hardships faced by patients due to the suspension of healthcare services over the past few days.
“The decision to temporarily halt the agitation is a measure to ensure that patient care resumes while we continue to pursue our pending demands,” a TAMOA spokesperson said.
Pending Demands
Despite the resumption of services, TAMOA emphasized that the suspension of the strike is interim and contingent upon the fulfillment of multiple demands outlined in their Charter of Demands. Key requirements include:
Swift action against perpetrators: Immediate arrest of assailants involved in recent incidents affecting RIMS staff.
Conflict resolution and communication: Prompt steps to address misunderstandings between doctors and patients to prevent escalation.
Cybercrime vigilance: Implementation of alerts and legal recourse against social media slander, threats, and harassment targeting medical professionals.
Enhanced security: Deployment of armed personnel at sensitive locations within RIMS to safeguard staff and patients.
Public relations support: Establishment of a dedicated cell to manage communication with the public, ensuring accurate dissemination of information and grievance redressal.
TAMOA has clarified that it will review the situation after one week to evaluate whether the authorities have taken appropriate steps to meet the outlined demands. If satisfactory progress is not observed, the association has reserved the right to resume its agitation.
