Doctors strike at Lok Nayak called off after health minister’s assurance

Residents at Lok Nayak went on strike after three of them were assaulted; Safdarjung doctors also on strike, upset about PG seats reduction

The strike by resident doctors of Lok Nayak, a Delhi government-run medical college and hospital over an alleged assault on three doctors was called off on Thursday evening after a time bound assurance by Delhi government.

The doctors 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, Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) dean and medical director of LNJP Hospital met Jain last evening to work out a solution.

It was also decided that the number of visitors or attendants with patients be restricted

“It was decided civil defence personnel will be deployed at the LNJP Hospital as per requirement, and in other Delhi government hospitals wherever there is security deficit,” hospital medical superintendent Dr J S Passey said. It was also decided that the proposal to install security cameras in hospitals will be “expedited”.

“Besides, the minister also directed that a medical superintendent shall convene a meeting of hospital staff and resident doctors every month to look into the grievances and take feedback,” he said. All leaves of doctors at the hospital have been cancelled after the resident doctors went on strike demanding better security at the workplace.

During the meeting, Jain asked the health secretary to issue suitable instructions and directions via the secretariat in view of the strike. It was also decided that the number of visitors or attendants with patients be restricted and for this a suitable policy is to be made by the government, an official said.

Meanwhile, resident doctors at the Centre-run Safdarjung Hospital continued their strike on the second day today, protesting the reduction of 30 post-graduate seats due to “administration lapses”.

They are demanding the resignation of the Principal of the Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC). Due to the strike, the emergency and OPD services have been affected, doctors said.

“Our workload has increased since the new emergency block has come up and seats are being reduced because of which the patient care is being compromised,” said Anubhav Sangwan, president of the resident doctors association.