Doctors continue protest; some relief for patients as emergency services resume
New Delhi: Healthcare services remained affected at several government hospitals in the national capital as resident doctors continued their strike on Saturday against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, even though they resumed work at emergency departments in some relief to patients.
Police force was deployed outside AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital in south Delhi as the protesting doctors came out on the streets agitated after authorities threatened punitive action against them on Saturday.
Following the health ministry's directive, the administration of AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital issued memorandums to their resident doctors to resume work at their respective departments and warned them of termination of services if they do not join duty immediately.
Emergency services, however, resumed at almost all government hospitals in Delhi. Officials said from Saturday, some of the Delhi government-run hospitals resumed all the services.
AIIMS resident doctors resumed emergency services around midnight Friday but non-essential services, including OPD services, remained suspended.
At Safdarjung Hospital, the doctors did not join duties in any department, including the emergency department.
"All members of RDA and student union are hereby directed to resume their duties in their respective departments with immediate effects, failing which strict disciplinary action like suspension/termination of services, vacation of hostel accommodation etc may be taken," AIIMS administration said in the memorandum.
"I have been asked by the ministry to inform you that if the doctors do not resume duties immediately, strong punitive action like suspension/ termination of service, evacuation of hostel accommodation will be initiated against all doctors on strike," Dr Sunil Gupta, medical director at Safdarjung Hospital, said in the memorandum addressed to the hospital's Resident Doctors Association president.
Striking doctors from Safdarjung Hospital marched towards the arterial Ring Road after the Medical Superintendent warned of strict action against them if they failed to resume work. They later returned to the campus and sat on a dharna at the Gate No. 2 of the hospital. The striking doctors of AIIMS protested outside its Gate No. 1.
Extra police forces were called in to ensure the situation remained under control.
Meanwhile, several faculty members and HODs at AIIMS had a meeting and heard the grievances of the students and resident doctors and expressed concern about the bill passed in a hurry without taking stakeholders into confidence. Many of them extended support to agitating doctors and will have a GBM on Monday to decide future course of action.
One of the senior faculty members doubted the intention of the government in breaching the autonomy of institutions of national importance through this bill, said sources.
