Lok Nayak, Safdarjung docs refuse to call off flash strike
NEW DELHI: Patients were turned away at two of Delhi’s biggest government hospitals because of a strike by resident doctors. Services at Lok Nayak and Safdarjung hospitals — the outpatient clinics, wards, surgeries and even the emergency department — were affected.
The hospitals together cater to around 15,000 patients in their out-patient clinics every day, with Safdarjung Hospital attending most emergency deliveries and burn cases in the city.
Nearly 400 resident doctors from Lok Nayak hospital went on a flash strike on Tuesday afternoon after three doctors from the hospital were assaulted by the family of a patient.
“They have sustained multiple fractures and one of the doctors was even throttled and had injuries to the face,” said Dr Ankur Sharma, general secretary of the resident doctors’ association at Lok Nayak hospital.
The family attacked the doctors after they were asked to wait outside by the doctors.
The doctors demanded that an institutional FIR be registered, the culprits caught and better security provided at the hospital.
“The institutional FIR has been registered and the culprits have been caught. The resident doctors had a meeting with the health minister and health secretary and a conclusion should be reached,” said Dr Kirti Bhushan, director-general of health services.
However, the doctors refused to call off the strike. “The government said that they would hire more security guards, put in place more CCTVS and better alarm system, but they refused to give a deadline. These promises have been made before, but nothing happens. We will continue with the strike,” said Dr Sharma.
At Safdarjung, the resident doctors and the medical students were protesting the cancellation of 30 PG seats due to administrative errors.
“We want seats be restored as it will affect the PG students, who have already been admitted on the seats. The principal should also be removed for making an error that will jeopardise the career of PG students,” said Dr Anubhav Sangwan, president of the resident doctors’ association at Safdarjung.