Resident govt docs to boycott OPD services

New Delhi, Oct. 30: Resident doctors, who have been opposing the Delhi government’s decision to extend OPD timings at its hospitals, on Monday said that they will boycott outdoor services on November 1.

The Federation of Resident Doctor’s Association (Forda), an umbrella body of the resident doctors of the city government hospitals, further threatened to paralyse the emergency services by not going to work, as their future course of action, if their concerns are not addressed.

Over 15,000 resident doctors in various city government hospitals have been protesting against the Delhi government’s decision of extending the Out-patient department (OPD) timings by wearing black ribbons at work.

In its October 9 order, the Delhi government had extended the OPD timings saying the facilities would remain functional from 8 am to 2 pm so that there is enough time to attend to patients and avoid crowding.

The OPD timing earlier was 9 am to 1 pm. The resident doctors alleged that even after repeatedly writing to the Delhi government,

The Federation of Resident Doctor’s Association further threatened to paralyse the emergency services by not going to work as their future course of action

there has been no response over the issue.

The Forda earlier had sought the government’s response on their objection to extend the OPD timings along with some others issues by October 21.

“We will shut down OPD services at all the hospitals on November 1. Further, if our concerns are not addressed we will boycott the emergency services,” Dr Vivek Chouksey, the president of the Forda said.

In a letter to the Delhi health secretary, the Forda earlier said after the order, long queues of patients were seen at government hospital pharmacies and registration centres, but no measure has been proposed for reducing the queues or waiting time at the these facilities.