Millennium Post

Health services hit in Delhi as doctors’ strike enters 7th day

The doctors’ strike is on in the national capital with Sunday marking a week of the indefinite protest over the rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata, causing disruption of services and affecting patients.

In the action plan for Sunday, members of the Delhi resident doctors’ associatio­n have decided to take out a candle march outside Gate 1 of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station at 6 pm.

“As approved in today’s general body meeting, residents from all medical colleges and institutio­ns in Delhi will gather for a candle march protest in Connaught Place,” a statement from the GTB Hospital RDA read. “We will assemble in groups of 3-4 at Gate No. 1, Rajiv Chowk Metro Station, form a human chain, and light candles at the inner circle to raise awareness about the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata,” it added.

The indefinite strike by doctors started on Monday and is now in its seventh day.

Both private and government hospitals have joined the protest, fighting for justice for the victim and demanding a security act for doctors.

Meanwhile, the Action Committee for the Central Protection Act, representi­ng all RDAs of Delhi, announced after a meeting today the continuati­on of the strike, citing unresolved safety concerns for healthcare profession­als.

The decision comes in response to what they deem inadequate assurances from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) following the tragic incident at the staterun RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the West Bengal capital.

While the ministry issued a notice on August 17, promising the formation of a committee to suggest safety measures, the doctors’ body expressed disappoint­ment, stating that previous committees have failed to deliver significan­t results.

The strike will affect all academic activities, outpatient department­s (OPDs), ward services, and elective surgeries, the body said. However, essential emergency services, including Intensive Care Units (ICUs), emergency procedures, and emergency surgeries, will continue to operate, it added.

Non-emergency services, such as OPD and diagnostic­s, and elective surgeries at citybased health facilities, including at Centre-run AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and RML Hospital, are hit since Monday.

Inconvenie­nce of patients further increased as personnel of institutio­ns such as Sir Ganga Ram, Fortis, and Apollo also joined protests on Sunday following a call by apex doctors’ body Indian Medical Associatio­n (IMA) for a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services.