Doctors at the Hindu Rao hospital go on an indefinite strike over non-payment of salaries

The resident doctors of the Hindu Rao hospital went on an indefinite strike on Monday over non-payment of their salaries.

The strike paralysed health services at the hospital operated by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).

The striking doctors alleged that they tried to run a parallel OPD for the patients but the hospital authorities prevented them from doing so.

Protesting delayed payment of their three months salaries, the doctors said that the hospital should be handed over to the Central government, if the local government and municipal corporations are unable to run it properly.

"Its not just a question of three months salaries, we are facing this recurring problem. The Delhi government and NDMC should give up this hospital if they can not even ensure regular payment of staff.

"We need a permanent solution of the problem and the authorities should hand over the hospital to the Central government if they can not run it properly," said Rahul Chaudhary, president of hospital's Resident Doctors Association.

A senior NDMC official said that the salaries of resident doctors were delayed because the funds were not released by Delhi government on time.

"We have learnt that the government may release the funds entitled to the NDMC today itself. As soon as it happens, the salaries will be paid," said the official.

The striking doctors also complained about poor facilities like non-availability of potable water and residential facilities for them.

Chaudhary said that a petition regarding the resident doctors' salaries was filed in the High Court. The case is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday.

A senior official of Hindu Rao hospital said,"We are hopeful that the doctors will get their salary in a couple of days."