- By Sahelee Rakshit
- Sun, 18 Aug 2024 09:46 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delhi Doctors Strike: The doctors' strike continues in Delhi, with Sunday marking the 7th day of a week-long indefinite protest against the rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, which has disrupted services and affected patients. The Delhi resident doctors' association (RDA) has also planned a candle march outside Gate 1 of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station at 6 PM on today.
Now the strike of resident doctors will be continuing on Monday as well, August 19. As a result, OPD services and regular surgeries will remain affected for the 8th consecutive day in all the major government hospitals, including AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, hospitals associated with Lady Harding Medical College (LHMC), Lok Nayak, GB Pant, GTB, and DDU.
Consultants and faculty-level doctors will work in the outpatient departments of hospitals, however, owing to the resident doctors' strike, OPD services have been reduced in all hospitals. As a result, prominent doctors will sit in the OPD, but only a few patients will be treated. Regular operations have been halted for a week due to the strike.
The resident doctors' strike has damaged Delhi's medical system. Every day, around one lakh patients seek treatment at the outpatient departments of the Central Government, Delhi Government, and Municipal Corporation hospitals in the nation's capital. Hospitals do not allow for three consecutive days of leave since medical services constitute a fundamental requirement.
Resident doctors, outraged by the death of a female junior resident doctor in Kolkata, have been on strike since August 12. This has had a negative impact on patient care. Surgery for thousands of patients has been postponed. Resident doctors have organised an action committee for Central Protection Act (CPA). This includes resident doctors from AIIMS, Safdarjung, RML, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), University College of Medical Science (UCMS), and DDU.
This action committee has also reiterated the demand of CPA to the central government and demanded the issuance of an ordinance.