OPD services hit as Safdarjung doctors' strike enters 2nd day

The strike of resident doctors in Safdarjung Hospital for better facilities and security entered the second day today, affecting the OPD services even as efforts by Health Ministry to find a solution did not fructify.
Though OPD services were hit, the protesting doctors did not suspend their services in the crucial Intensive Care Units (ICU), casualty, labour room and emergency departments of the hospital, officials said.
A second meeting between the protesting doctors and ministry officials will be held soon, they said.
Resident Doctors Association (RDA) said "no consensus could be reached" in the meeting they held this afternoon with senior health ministry officials and hospital authorities.

"The administration expressed their inability to resolve the issue in the near future. Resident doctors are continuing their strike until demands are addressed satisfactorily by the competent authorities," RDA said in a release here.
Besides medical superintendent of the hospital, the meeting was also attended by a joint-secretary level officer of the Union Health Ministry, RDA leaders said.

"As of now, no concrete solution has been offered by the authorities. However, another round of talks with the senior officials would be held soon. Till then, we are continuing with our strike," RDA spokesperson Dr Sameer Prabhakar said.
The resident doctors went on strike yesterday evening protesting scarcity of hostel rooms for them in the hospital. Besides, they were also demanding enhanced security measures and Wi-Fi facility in the campus.

The protesters demanded that despite manifold increase in the number of Resident Doctors in the hospital, the administration has failed to construct new hostels for them and they are bound to put up in private accommodations located outside the campus.
"There are only around 100 rooms, including 21 rooms for accommodation for married doctors, available in the hospital despite the fact that number of Resident Doctors working here is around 900," the spokesperson claimed, adding that hostel upgrading is the foremost demand of the RDA.