Non-payment of salaries: Doc, nurses, take out candle march

Around 300 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff working in the city's hospitals, run by the three municipal corporations, today protested against the non- payment of salaries for past three months.
They took out a candle march near ITO this evening accusing the Delhi government of pushing the doctors, nursing staff and paramedical staff of the municipal corporations run hospital to a state of starvation by not paying their salaries.
Delhi Medical Association (DMA) also extended its support to the protests by the doctors and medical staffs and said if needed it will approach National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
"The attitude of the Delhi government is that they will do everything for the welfare and convenience of patients but nothing for the doctors. It is disgusting. We will approach the NHRC if the salaries are not paid," said DMA president, Dr Ajay Lekhi.

Dr K P Rewani, Secretary of Municipal Corporation Doctor's Association said, "Due to non-payment of salaries, doctors, nursing staff and paramedical staff are in a state of starvation and paucity of life saving drugs in hospitals has brought the Delhiites to a state of helplessness and they were being forced to avail treatment at private hospitals."
Earlier, the doctors had gone on a week-long strike from December 18 but withdrew it after the authorities promised that their salaries would be released by the end of that month.
They also submitted a memorandum to Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking redressal for their long-pending demand on priority basis.

"We have gone on strike four times in the last six months. We withdraw it because we do not want the patients to suffer. Government also aasured us that our salaries will be released, but nothing has happened on the front. We cannot work without our salaries," said a doctor from Kasturba Gandhi hospital.