COVID duty incentive: MBBS interns defer strike after AIIMS assurance

However, if the issue doesn't get sorted within November 22, they would continue their strike again, informed the President of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), Dr Manish.

Hundreds of interns were on strike for the past few days demanding the release of the stipend promised by the AIIMS Bhopal against the services taken. The interns have withdrawn themselves from Non-Emergency services since October 28 and have been protesting peacefully since then, adds UNI.

The interns were posted on duty in Covid-19 wards for 54 days between April 17 and June 6 this year with the promised remuneration of Rs 1,000 per eight hours of a shift. However, the interns are waiting to receive their honorarium for over four months now.

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FORDA also came in their support and in a letter directed to the Union Health Minister, they pointed out how the doctors- both residents and interns played a significant role in the fight against the Pandemic.

Standing in solidarity with the demands of the protesting interns for the promised COVID incentive, FORDA stated in its letter, "The Medical fraternity stands together in the national response to COVID-19 & has been fighting at the frontline since the beginning of the Pandemic. Along with Resident Doctors working in Healthcare Institutions across the nation, MBBS interns too played a significant role both during the 1^st & 2^nd waves of the Pandemic. Through this representation, we wish to highlight an issue faced by MBBS Interns of AIIMS, Bhopal."

"Interns of AIIMS, Bhopal were posted in COVID duties in various Departments of the Hospital between 17/04/2021 to 09/06/2021 during the 2^nd wave of Pandemic. In line with the direction of AIIMS, Delhi, Interns posted at COVID-19 Task Force of AIIMS, Bhopal were also promised an Incentive/Remuneration of Rs. 1000 per day (8 hours shift) during the aforementioned period via Office Memorandum No. AIIMS/Bhopal/Dean (A)/2021/3120 dated 08/06/2021. However, they have been waiting for the promised Incentive since past 4 months & meetings with Hospital Authority have led to no solution at all," the letter added.

"In fact, they have been denied the Incentive & the aforementioned O.M has been refuted by the concerned authority. With no option left, AIIMS, Bhopal Interns have been forced to withdraw from Non-Emergency services since 28^th October, 2021 & have been protesting peacefully since then. It is extremely unfortunate that even after 4 days of protest, the Hospital Authority has paid no heed to their genuine demand, forcing them to declare "Hunger Strike", today (2^nd November) onwards," it further mentioned.

Meanwhile, the intern doctors deferred their hunger strike after the Lok Sabha MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur assured to them to take up their issues before the Union Health Ministry.

Now, the Hospital Administration has also responded and the interns have been assured that their issues would be resolved soon.

Speaking about the latest development, Dr Manish, President of FORDA told Medical Dialogues, "These doctors were promised incentive for the COVID duties. However, even though doctors in AIIMS Delhi have received their incentives, these doctors of Bhopal haven't been paid for their COVID-19 services."

"Now, as the Hospital administration has given them assurance that their demands would be met, the protesting interns have called off their strike for three weeks. However, if they do not get any positive response within November 22, they would resume their protest again," he added.