Doctors at Ambedkar hospital call off strike

The strike was called off after the authorities promised to recruit more guards, provide them better training and deploy them at crowded sections of the hospital like the emergency.

“On Sunday, a fight broke out in Rohini between two groups. The injured persons from both sides were brought to the hospital. While doctors were preparing their MLCs and administering emergency treatment, a scuffle broke out again between the groups. Doctors were also injured,” medical superintendent Dr Jayant Kumar told Newsline.

Doctors had gone on strike in October too after a similar scuffle in the emergency. “We had gone on strike demanding better security and additional guards in the emergency at least when women doctors are on duty. But no one followed up on the assurances,” a doctor said.

The 500-bed hospital is the Delhi government’s tertiary care facility in North Delhi and receives patients referred from several hospitals. On Monday, Dr Kumar said consultants were roped in to manage patients admitted in the wards.

While emergency surgeries were conducted, other procedures were cancelled. Till Monday evening, negotiations were on between hospital authorities and the striking doctors, urging them to resume duties. An FIR has been registered, but no arrests have been made, a police officer said.