Delhi: Health services hit in city as doctors’ continue strike for eleventh day

Delhi: The indefinite protest by resident doctors over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic at a Kolkata hospital entered its 11th day on Thursday, despite the Supreme Court’s request for them to return to work.

Hospitals across Delhi have seen patient services severely disrupted due to the ongoing protest.

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court, on its own initiative, took notice of the Kolkata incident and formed a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to establish a protocol for ensuring the safety and security of doctors and healthcare professionals.

The task force, led by Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, has been directed to submit an interim report within three weeks.

However, some doctors’ associations have voiced concerns over the task force’s composition.

“We don’t understand the criteria for selecting task force members. Resident doctors should have been included, as we’ve been advocating”.

“Furthermore, there should be representation from professors at government medical colleges, as violence is more commonly reported in government hospitals than in private ones,” a doctors’ body official said.

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has petitioned the Supreme Court, seeking temporary protection for doctors until the NTF’s recommendations are implemented.

Also Read: Delhi: Patients, kin suffer as doctors’ protests paralyse city hospitals

In its plea to the Supreme Court, FAIMA argued that doctors frequently face violence and threats to their safety and security.

“It is crucial that resident doctors are adequately represented, as they experience these issues firsthand and can offer practical solutions”.

“Involving resident doctors will ensure that comprehensive guidelines are created after thorough discussions with all stakeholders,” the plea said, also calling for the enforcement of the Central Protection Act for doctors’ safety and security.

The plea also urged the installation of CCTV cameras in all sensitive areas, such as hospital and hostel entrances, exits, and corridors.

Key demands in the petition include CCTV installation, strict adherence to the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013, and the establishment of a 24-hour distress call facility to provide immediate assistance to healthcare workers in emergencies. (With inputs from PTI)