Resident doctors at the Safdarjung Hospital have called off their strike till Tuesday as the authorities have agreed to their demands by assuring them that the primary requirements of accommodation would be tabled before the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry on Saturday and the secondary issues of basic amenities too would be resolved.
“We agreed to resume our duties as we have taken the word from Dr Jagdish Prasad, the Director General of the Health Services. He assured us that he will take up the matter of hostel accommodation with the Health Secretary this weekend and our demands for facility of drinking water in wards, release of interim salary of interns and increase in the number of security guards would be sorted at the earliest,” said Dr Sameer Prabhakar, the spokesperson of the Resident Doctors Association.
The medical superintendent of the hospital Dr BD Athani said the main issue regarding the accommodation required deliberation thus we have requested the doctors to join back.
“We have told them that the issue that could be resolved would definitely looked after but the accommodation cannot be provided over night. It will be done on a long-term plan basis and we shall in spirit work towards it,” Athani said.
Earlier, the OPD services at the Safderjung Hospital were largely affected and other services remained partially suspended due to the on-going strike of the resident doctors on Thursday. Patients complained of non-availability of the doctors round-the-clock and many in the OPD went back without getting any appointment.
“I visited the hospital on April 25 as I had severe pain in my lower abdomen. The doctors gave me medication and asked to do ultrasonography, blood tests and urine examination. I am waiting to take the doctors advice as the reports have come but nobody is here. They had told to do the tests after taking the medication for a time and then go for the tests. At the Pathology laboratory, I was told that I have a stone stuck in one of the tubes connecting the uterus. I have no relief from the pain,” said Sushma Devi, 28 residing near the Greater Kailash area of the South Delhi.
“The duties in the Emergency, labour Room, two ICUs, Casualty and Maternity Operation Theater remained uninterrupted but we had only withdrawn our electives which including a complete shut down in the OPD services. We are doctors and do feel about the patient requirements but the situation is compelling that’s the reason for taking such steps to push forth a genuine demand,” said one of the resident doctor.
Another patient in the spinal injury ward said he had to take pain killers by requesting the nurses as doctors didn’t come for the check-up.
When the administration was asked about the inconveniences of patients, a senior doctor said resident doctors have demands which need to be addressed, “but we have tried our level best to be present for patients.”