No Word on NEET PG Counselling: Withdrawal of All Services by Delhi Doctors, Other States to join

Resident doctors from institutes including RML, Lady Hardinge, Safdarjung, UCMS, Maulana Azad Medical College have joined the protest and they have boycotted all the services (both OPD and emergency).

Urging for expediting the NEET PG 2021 Counselling process, the doctors have gathered in front of Nirman Bhawan raising slogans like "We Want Justice", "Dhoka Hai Bhai Dhoka Hai, Counselling ko Roka Hai" etc.

The strike, which had been suspended for a period of one week following verbal assurances from the Health Ministry has been resumed on December 17 onwards and the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) had called for withdrawal from all services this time.

Meanwhile, even though the doctors have been given verbal assurances regarding the commencement of the Counselling process, this time the doctors will not call off the strike on the basis of verbal assurances, Dr. Manish, President of FORDA has informed Medical Dialogues.

The doctors had been protesting against the continuous delay in the NEET-PG Counselling, which was scheduled to commence from October 25, 2021. However, as the OBC and EWS reservation policy that was announced by the Central Government was challenged before the Supreme Court, MCC had postponed the counselling process and it cannot commence until the Central Government revisits the Rs 8 lakh annual income limit set for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that medicos have been protesting against the continuous delay in the NEET-PG Counselling process by stopping the OPD services. Recently, resident doctors in three Delhi-based hospitals- RML, Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge- had decided to boycott emergency services as well.

Also Read: NEET PG Counselling delay: Here is how doctors reacted Pan India

However, after receiving strong assurances from the Union Health Ministry and the Central Government, FORDA had decided to suspend their strike activities for the time being and resume OPD and emergency services.

At that time, FORDA had clarified that "In case the issue is not addressed by 16th December, 2021, we will be forced to call for complete shutdown of all services except COVID areas in healthcare institutions."

However, as the problem didn't get resolved the Doctors resumed their protest again on December 17 and issuing a Press Release regarding the matter, FORDA had mentioned, "The agitation for expediting NEET-PG 2021 Counselling called by FORDA that was put on hold on 9th December, 2021, has been resumed today, 17th December, 2021, in the form of "Withdrawal from all Services" (Routine as well as Emergency) by Resident Doctors in healthcare institutions."

Yesterday, as a symbol of their protest activities, the doctors returned the "Taalis & Thaalis" that were clamoured & "Phool" that were showered" upon them during the previous waves of the pandemic.

FORDA has already given a call for a "Diya Jalao" campaign today evening to "create awareness among concerned authorities regarding the grievance of overworked & exhausted Resident Doctors & the necessity of expediting NEET-PG Counselling 2021 amidst the concern of 3rd wave of COVID-19 Pandemic."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr. Manish, the President of FORDA said, "Today is the 6^th day of the agitation and resident doctors from all hospitals in Delhi are protesting outside the Nirman Bhawan. From tomorrow onwards, the residents from other states are also joining us and they are coming to Delhi to join us in Delhi. Till now, all the major hospitals in Delhi have participated in the Protest including Safdarjung, RML, Lady Hardinge, Maulana Azad, UCMS."

When asked if they have heard anything from the Government yet, Dr. Manish added, "Day before yesterday the Ministry had called us for a meeting which was not fruitful. So we have decided to continue our protest."

"At the meeting we got verbal assurances again from the Ministry. But on verbal assurance we cannot call off the strike. Last time we did, but not this time," he clarified.

Delhi Resident Doctors Boycott All Services:

Resident doctors belonging to all the major Delhi-based hospitals have joined the protest in front of Nirman Bhawan boycotting all the services.

The Institutes which have participated in the protest include, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, Maulana Azad Medical College, University Science of Medical Sciences, and Safdarjung Hospital.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that p rotesting against the delay in NEET-PG 2021 counselling, the resident doctors of Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) hospital resumed their strike on Friday and boycotted all services, including emergency services. Besides RML, the doctors of two other Centre-run hospitals in Delhi including Safdarjung, and Lady Hardinge hospitals stated that they decided to continue the strike as the government had made a "fake promise".

Candle Light March by AIIMS Doctors:

Doctors from the premiere medical institute All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) New Delhi have also joined the protest and they organized a candle light march as a symbol of their protest for the continuous delay in the NEET PG Counselling Process.

In a recent Press Release, RDA AIIMS mentioned, "Resident doctors at AIIMS have been protesting against the avoidable and inconvenient delay in NEET PG counselling by working with black ribbons. A candle light march following Covid appropriate behaviour shall be organized today at JLN auditorium, AIIMS Delhi at 6.30 pm and shall proceed to gate No. 1 to support the cause of the overburdened resident doctors of the country and as an acknowledgement of the sufferings of Indian citizens who are being denied the services of 42,000 doctors due to unavoidable delay in NEET PG counselling."

Doctors from Other States to Join Protest in Delhi:

The ongoing agitation by resident doctors is going to be intensified even more as resident doctors from State including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan are going to come to Delhi to join the strike, Dr. Manish informed Medical Dialogues.

"Until now, these doctors have been protesting in their own States, but now they will be coming to Delhi," added Dr. Manish.

Even though several resident doctors have joined the call for withdrawal from all services, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has taken a different stand. Even though they are supporting the cause of protest, they are not participating in the strike.

While commenting on the matter, Dr Rohan Krishnan, President of FAIMA said, "Last time around 19 states had joined us for shut down of emergency and OPD services but keeping in mind the problems that the patients have to face during strike, we have decided not to call for shut down of services this time."

"However, doctors who are not on duty or after duty years they are joining the agitation in front of Nirman Bhawan. The protest is going on all over Delhi and the resident doctors are requesting the Government to initiate the NEET PG Counselling immediately. This delay of more than 1 year has resulted in a situation where the doctors have been working on 2/3^rd of the capacity and soon they will be working on 1/3^rd of the capacity. With the upcoming Omicron Variant virus we are sitting on a volcano right now and we need as much of manpower as we can to tackle the situation," he added.