Doctors call off strike after govt assurance

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New Delhi, July 16

The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) and the Nurses’ Association of the Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital which was on a strike to demand better security measures in the wake of a shooting incident called off its stir on Tuesday following an assurance from the Delhi Government.

In a development aimed at addressing security issues, a meeting was held with Danish Ashraf, Special Secretary of Health and Family Welfare, GNCTD, along with RDA members, the MD of GTB Hospital and other officials.

“The health department has assured us that they will look into our demands,” RDA members said.

“Key decisions taken during the meeting included immediate replacement of the current security company tender with a two-layer security system to bolster infrastructure, pending consultation with Health and Family Welfare department due to legal considerations,” it said in the statement.

The installation of metal detectors at entry gates and walkie-talkies for security guards was also approved.

Enhancing security measures further, barricading at entry points will be promptly implemented by the security agency with regular monitoring.

Ensuring law and order within the hospital and college campuses will involve regular police rounds and the maintenance of round registers under CMO supervision, it said.

Rapid response teams will be formed equipped with proper communication tools and physically fit personnel to ensure swift emergency responses.

Additionally, plans were made for deploying armed guards at the entry points and critical areas such as emergency wards and the blood bank in collaboration with H&FW and Delhi Police and regular monitoring of security services.

Other measures agreed upon include the implementation of proper emergency exit systems, effective CCTV coverage, recruitment of essential staff like nursing orderly and technicians and the provision of sufficient waiting areas for attendants in emergency zones.

Strict enforcement of rule mandating gate pass for the entry of patient’s relatives and centralisation of patient trolley/wheelchair systems in emergency areas were also highlighted.

The RDA representative said that they had signed the letter to call off the strike.

The doctors went on strike a day after a 32-year-old man was shot by a teenager inside a ward of the GTB Hospital here on Sunday.

The strike commenced at 9 am on Monday, affecting routine patient care in all non-emergency areas, according to members of the doctors’ association.

Key decisions

• Immediate replacement of the current security company tender with a two-layer security system to bolster infrastructure
• Installation of metal detectors at entry gates and walkie-talkies for security guards
• Barricading at entry points with regular monitoring and police patrolling on hospital premises.
• Rapid response teams will be formed equipped with proper communication tools
• Strict enforcement of rule mandating gate pass for entry of patient’s relatives