IMA writes to PM, seeks intervention

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 17

Healthcare services got crippled in city hospitals on Monday with resident doctors under the banner of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Delhi Medical Association on 24-hour strike to show solidarity with their colleagues in Wes Bengal.

Non-essential medical services such as OPD and routine operation theatres were closed as doctors of AIIMS, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Hospital, RML Hospital, GTB Hospital, DDU Hospital and some private hospitals joined the protest.

Emergency services, including ICU, casualty and labour room, were not affected. The IMA sent a letter to the Prime Minister, seeking his intervention into the matter.

“The Central government should bring an immediate ordinance. The Home Minister, Law Minister and Health Minister should hold a meeting and bring an Act on violence against doctors with stringent penal action against culprits,” said Dr RV Ashokan, general secretary of the IMA.

“It is not a 24-hour or 48-hour protest. We are demanding a concrete solution to the problem. Why do parliamentarians get security? Like them, we have a threat to our lives. The government should provide safety and security to us. The Prime Minister should intervene,” said Dr KK Aggarwal, former national president of the IMA.

The Resident Doctors’ Association, AIIMS, which had earlier decided to not the strike, held a general body meeting this morning. They decided to go on strike in the wake of an attack on a junior resident at the emergency department of Jai Prakash Narain Apex Trauma Centre at AIIMS.

He was abused by relatives of a patient around 1:30 am on Sunday for “performing his duty of giving preferential care” to a critical patient.

In support of their colleagues in West Bengal, they took out a protest march in front of Jawaharlal Auditorium, AIIMS, this morning before resuming their duties. They decided to keep away from non-essential services from noon till 6 am on Tuesday.

“I am performing my duties and will join the protest after duty. I will not eat anything till our demands are met. I need your support as I cannot see the suffering of patients lying outside hospitals. As I know, they still consider doctors second to God. It is our duty to continue essential services,” said Dr Vijay Kumar Gurjar of AIIMS, on hunger strike in protest.