AIIMS doctors to undergo self-defence training from taekwondo experts

To counter acts of violence against the medical fraternity, resident doctors at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) will be given self-defence training by professionals with black belt in taekwondo, starting May 15.

Dr Vijay Kumar, President of the AIIMS Resident Doctors Association told ANI on Wednesday that the need for self defence has emerged due to the increase in violence against doctors along with a lack of safety measures provided by the hospital administration.

"Self defence training is crucial for doctors. Families of patients who don't get what they ask for attack doctors, as was the case recently in Mumbai. In such situations, it is necessary to make us self-sufficient," he said.

Initially, the course will last for three months, following which interested participants can enroll into a full two-year programme. Two batches will be available, from 6-7pm and 7-8pm. The session is scheduled to take place near Delhi's Gymkhana Club.

In March, resident doctors in Maharashtra went on a six-day strike following a spate of assaults on colleagues by patients' relatives.

The doctors' first and foremost demand is security. To this effect, doctors demanded the presence of armed personnel in the hospital premises. No ground-level implementation was made until then, according to their statement.

However, the protest was called off after the state's Medical Education Minister Girish Mahajan ordered the deployment of police personnel in every college.

"Till April 5, there will be a temporary force that will be replaced by special armed forces of the Maharashtra State Security Corporation," one of the doctors told ANI.