Delhi: AIIMS resident docs on strike tomorrow, contingency plan issued

Resident Doctors Association of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has called for a strike on Friday in support of protesting doctors in West Bengal, following which hospital authorities issued a contingency plan for the smooth functioning of emergency healthcare services.

"Emergency services will function normally as the resident doctors will purportedly continue to work in the emergency services as per their scheduled duties," said AIIMS medical superintendent DK Sharma in an official statement issued.

"Inpatient (General and Private) wards patient care services, Labour Room and Maternity Operation Theatre (OT) and support services will function normally and will be supervised by the concerned faculty of hospital administration," it added.

While Out Patient Department (OPD), radio-diagnosis and laboratory diagnosis services are scheduled to function on a restricted basis, routine operation theatre services will largely remain suspended on Friday, the authorities said.

Earlier today, resident doctors in AIIMS were seen donning helmets and bandages while attending to patients at the hospital, showing solidarity to protesting doctors in West Bengal.

The doctors held up placards which read, "We are not terrorists! We are doctors, we save you. #stopviolenceagainstdoctors. AIIMS residents stand with NRSMCH. #savethesavior #saveyourself. We demand a safe workplace."

This comes nearly four days after a junior doctor at Nil Ratan Sarkar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata was allegedly attacked by the relative of a patient who died on June 10.

The incident has triggered protests from doctors in government hospitals across the country, demanding a safe working environment for medical practitioners.