Doctors refuse to call off strike; LNJP, others hit

New Delhi: The strike by resident doctors of a Delhi government-run medical college and hospital, over an alleged assault on two of its doctors, entered its third day on Thursday even though health minister Satyendar Jain assured them of security.

The doctors of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, which is governed by the Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), went on strike on Tuesday to protest against the alleged attack on two of their colleagues by relatives and attendants of a patient.

Representatives of the doctors, the MAMC dean, and the medical director of LNJP hospital met Mr Jain, on Wednesday evening, to work out a solution.

“The resident doctors are still on strike, but we are working hard to ensure that patients do not suffer. Besides the routine operations, we haven’t really allowed anything else to get affected,” said Dr JC Passey, the medical superintendent of the hospital.

He clarified that specialised operations are taking place and that the OPD is also running. He further said that the decision taken by Mr Jain is awaiting clearance at the health secretary level.

“It was decided that civil defence personnel will be deployed at LNJP hospital, as per requirement, and in other Delhi government hospitals wherever there is security deficit,” he added.

It was also decided that the proposal to install security cameras in hospitals will be expedited.

“The minister also directed a medical superintendent to convene a meeting of the hospital staff and resident doctors every month to look into the grievances and take their feedback. All leaves of doctors have been cancelled as mandated by the rules,” he said.

Meanwhile, resident doctors at the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital also continued their strike on the second day on Thursday, protesting the reduction of 30 post-graduate seats owing to administration lapses. They are demanding the resignation of the principal of the Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College.