AIIMS Resident Doctors Continue Strike, Offer Elective OPD Services Outside Nirman Bhawan

AIIMS Resident Doctors Association will provide elective OPD services outside Nirman Bhawan starting August 19 amid their ongoing strike against the rape-murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The strike highlights the need for a central ordinance ensuring healthcare workers' safety.

The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) will provide elective OPD services outside Nirman Bhawan from 11 am on August 19 amid their ongoing strike. The protest follows the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

The RDA AIIMS, in a press release on Sunday, announced that resident doctors from around 36 specialities, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, will be available for patients outside Nirman Bhawan. Emergency services will continue as normal within AIIMS.

This decision was reached after discussions with the Action Committee for Central Protection Act and the general body of RDA AIIMS. The association stated that academic activities, elective OPDs, ward, and OT services will remain halted in protest, while emergency services continue to be provided, in adherence to their Hippocratic oath and to emphasize the lack of security for healthcare professionals across the country.

The RDA urged the government to expedite a central ordinance for the protection of healthcare workers and institutions and requested permission for the necessary arrangements for the elective OPD services outside Nirman Bhawan. Their strike began in response to the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College on August 9, which led to nationwide protests by medical professionals.

Furthermore, on August 14, a mob vandalized the protest site and the hospital campus at RG Kar, leading to security personnel intervening to disperse the crowd. (ANI)

(With inputs from agencies.)