Indian Medicos On Strike, Nov 26,2007 Poem by Dr John Celes

They want to make their course a year longer:
The training period to be made two years;
They want youngsters to go to villages,
And work for paltry stipend for one year.

The idea mooted just by one person-
No doubt ‘tis great but why choose House-surgeons?
Can not the senior doctors do better?
But do you think they will ever offer?

They want to save on salary sums paid;
They want a steady source of fresh doctors;
They want to send them as part of training;
They plan to send them all under duress!

The nation’s medicos are on strike now!
-On eve of forthcoming exams shortly;
What waste of student-hours and emotions!
They could miss University exams!

Their teachers are upset about pupils;
Their parents do not know what to do next;
The ego of one person has caused this
Sad state of affairs in the whole country!

The real fact is no one wants to go
To sub-centers, where problems are galore;
A lot of doctors won’t get jobs therefore
On permanent basis in health sector.

Like how the Kargil-war was won of late,
By sending young Jawans to scale the heights,
They plan to send freshers to villages,
To improve health of people over there?

The idea is good but why freshers?
Should you not send the senior-most doctors?
Should you not improve working conditions?
But all is fair in health industry too!

Most want to earn huge sums in cities big!
Most want to earn five-figure salaries!
Most want lucre and live in luxury,
But scape-goat medicos in prime of life!

What unfairness prevails in most nations!
How wily politicians earn their fame!
How students get dragged into politics!
Each party wants to steal the lime-light first!

Young medicos are victims poor in fray;
In modern adult world, they have no say;
Strike is the only thing they can count on;
White-coat and Stethoscope, they hate to don!

Copyright by Dr John Celes 11-26-2007