Emergency medical services remained unaffected at the Safdarjung Hospital even as nearly 400 junior resident doctors of Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) went on a hunger strike,hoping to stir the authorities into action. The students demanded basic facilities like drinking water and clean toilets inside the college and hostel. After VMMC director Dr Jagdish Prasad,Principal V K Sharma and Safdarjung Medical Superintendent Dr N K Mohanty refused to speak to the doctors,students threatened to escalate the protests. Postgraduate students will join the strike from Wednesday. The administration has refused to fix simple problems like drinking water,lifts and air-conditioning in the hostel, said Raj Kumar Singh,pre-final year student. Dr Mohanty said none of the medical facilities were affected. Services remain unaffected. The casualty is functioning normally. I am personally ensuring that patients do not suffer, he added. No one is willing to hear our grievances. We have been compelled to take this step and even if the matter escalates up to the Health minister,we will not back out. Patients and students are suffering due to the authorities indifference, said Aashima,a third-year MBBS student at VMMC.
