Amid the ongoing nationwide strike by doctors demanding strict laws for the safety of healthcare workers, resident doctors of AIIMS and other hospitals in Delhi have announced to provide OPD (outpatient department) services for free on the road in front of the Health Ministry from August 19. The Resident Doctors Association of AIIMS said in its statement that the free services will continue at Nirman Sadan (Health Ministry) until they are assured of adequate security in hospitals through the Central Security Act.
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“Resident doctors will be available to provide elective OPD services of around 36 specialities including medicine, surgery, obs & gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, orthopaedics and others to patients outside the Nitraman building. Emergency services in our hospitals will continue as before,” the statement said. The association also urged the government to accept their plea and bring an ordinance to protect healthcare workers. “We are urging the government to accept our plea for an immediate central ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions,” the statement said.
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Meanwhile, a nationwide strike is underway to show solidarity with the victim of the Kolkata rape and murder case. The CBI, which took over the case from the West Bengal Police, conducted a psychology test of accused Sanjoy Roy on August 18. The test was conducted with the help of a team of five experts from the CBI’s Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL). Besides, the CBI questioned Dr Sandip Ghose, former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place, for the second consecutive day on Saturday in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor.
