Thousands of Resident Doctors in New Delhi Threaten to Go on Strike From June 22

Over 2,000 resident doctors working in state-run and Center-run hospitals in Delhi have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from June 22 following the government's failure to fulfill their demands.

The doctors demanded to improve infrastructure and security at workplace, adequate life-saving and generic drugs, drinking water and salary on time. The doctors, under the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) have written to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, requesting him to look into the matter and take corrective actions.

Doctors from Safdarjung Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College, GTB, Deen Dayal Upadhyay, ESI, Hindu Rao and Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) besides the Municipal Corporation Delhi (MCD)-run hospitals will be joining the strike.

A resident doctor at Safdarjung Hospital explained: "Doctors in the hospital are prone to attacks from patients' attendants and despite being promised adequate security we don't have enough cover. Almost every month there are reports of assault and abuse of medical personnel at workplace."

The FORDA has also given a deadline to the ministry to respond by June 21, failing which the doctors will go on a mass strike on June 22. Hospitals in Delhi lack basic facilities for doctors including residential quarters and drinking water.

"We have given adequate time to the government to respond and we hope that it will be positive," said another resident doctor from Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital. "The emergency services will remain unaffected while outpatient departments and other work will be hit," warned doctors.

Source: Medindia