Medical services at Safdarjung Hospital are likely to be hit badly as resident doctors launched a ‘non- cooperation movement’ by going on mass leave for an indefinite period from Tuesday.
The second round of agitation comes five days after the Union Health Ministry promised the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) that its grievances would be addressed latest by Saturday.
While announcing their decision to strike again, RDA alleged the administration was going reneging on its promises to provide better facilities.
The body represents around 900 doctors of the hospital. RDA spokesperson Dr Sameer Prabhakar said they were forced to launch the indefinite protest as the administration did not take any action on their demands. “There is no forward movement. We are launching a non-cooperation movement. None of the resident doctors will attend OPD, Emergency and ICU. Only senior doctors will be there,” he claimed.
However, Medical Superintendent Dr B D Athani rejected the allegations.”The protest is despite the fact that the administration had agreed to most of their demands. The protesting doctors are not attending even Emergency or ICU despite repeated appeals to them,” Athani said. SN Makwana, Safdarjung spokesperson, said the doctors have given notice to go on mass leave from the evening on Tuesday. The RDA had called of its indefinite strike on the second day on May 9 after Health Ministry and hospital administration promised to look into their grievances, including better facilities and security.
Doctors claimed officials have agreed to consider all their demands, including release of four months salary of interns, availability of potable water in all wards, upgrading of canteen and security.
“As far as demand of hostel is concerned, they have assured us to come up with the concrete plan by Tuesday. Hence, we are discontinuing our strike till then and our further course of action would be decided accordingly,” Prabhakar, the spokesperson of the association had said.