Delhi hospital strike: OPDs shut at AIIMS, Safdarjung for third day in a row, doctors demand Central Protection Act

This is the first time in the last 10 years that outpatient departments and elective OT services have been shut for three days across city government hospitals.

AIIMS only saw patients with prior appointments and follow-ups. An official said walk-in patients are almost 50% of the patient load in the OPD; most come from far away cities across North India. Many such ‘walk-in’ patients were given dates months later on Wednesday.

The OPD load, meanwhile, reduced by 55% as compared to a regular Wednesday, admissions by 65%, surgeries by 85%, and lab services by 20%.

Dr Sushant Kumar, a senior resident doctor at AIIMS who has been part of the strike from the start, said he is aware of the disruption caused to patients but registering their protest is also important. He said for doctors, the hospital is like their home: “We spend most of our time here, more than with our parents. It’s our right to feel safe… we’re not against any government or person but we don’t want something like this to happen to us.”

Before the protest was a nukkad natak that saw the attendance of senior faculty members who also participated in the march.

According to Dr Richa Mishra, a representative from the AIIMS resident doctors’ association, it’s not just this one incident that has forced them to protest. “It happened in a medical college in Kolkata and we should realise the intensity of the situation. A medical college is supposed to be a safe space. If this is its condition, then what might be happening in primary and community health centres?” she questioned.

According to Dr Amarinder Singh Malhi, assistant professor and ex-RDA president of AIIMS, the need for the CPA has been part of conversations since 2019: “The law was vetted by the union health ministry in 2019 but approval has not been given so far.”

Yatisha Gupta, general secretary of the AIIMS scientific society and an undergraduate student, said the gruesome crime has affected all of her fellow students and colleagues. “We are scared. The future generation of doctors should be safe. The CPA will help in building a safer environment. What happened in Kolkata is work place assault,” she added.

Meanwhile, the strike continued at other hospitals too. At Safdarjung, registration at the OPD counters was restricted by an hour — till 10.30 am from the usual time of 11.30 am.

Dr Rajat Gangwar, a senior resident doctor, said the Kolkata incident is a dreadful eye opener on lapses in security for doctors, and more importantly, women. That’s why we want the CPA, he said.

“OPDs are shut… they’ve not been shut for three continuous days for a long time across Delhi hospitals. But the strike is important as there have been many incidents of violence against doctors over the years,” he added.