AIIMS doctors allege rising theft cases on campus

New Delhi: AIIMS resident doctors have threatened to stop work if the administration does not act on the rising number of theft cases in the campus, saying patient care cannot be delivered in an unsafe and uncooperative environment. The doctors have also alleged lack of redressal of complaints.

In a letter to the AIIMS administration, the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) has demanded implementation of enhanced security for the duty rooms of doctors and immediate monetary compensation “as promised” for all lost items along with efficient follow-up of complaints. They have also sought transfer of the AIIMS chowki-in-charge with immediate effect.

In the letter, the doctors said that many valuables and gadgets, including laptops, mobile phones, and personal belongings, and even vehicles of resident doctors have been stolen from duty rooms, changing rooms, and from the campus during duty hours.

The attitude of the AIIMS security has been “extremely callous” in this regard while the behaviour of the chief security officer and AIIMS police chowki-in-charge has been “uncooperative,” they alleged.

“There have been reports of complaint as FIRs are not being registered. Police staff scolded a female resident for not taking care of her belonging when she went to lodge an FIR for her lost laptop. Residents are made to run from pillar to post for registering complaints,” the RDA said in the letter.

They alleged that there is always a delay and no follow-up of complaints lodged earlier.