While the doctors of Hindu Rao hospital went on an indefinite hunger strike starting from 22nd November, the doctors of Kasturba Hospital have confirmed that they will also boycott services from 26th November.
The doctors of Kasturba hospital are currently observing a pen-down strike, not working from 9 am to 12 noon, and holding a peaceful protest. However, they have planned to continue the strike indefinitely from 26th November, if their salaries remain unpaid. The protesting doctors claimed that they have not received their salaries for the last three months.
As far as Hindu Rao Hospital is concerned, the resident doctors have already entered the third day of their strike. As many as 300 resident doctors of Hindu Rao are participating in the strike right now. The doctors first staged pen-down strike and subsequently went on an indefinite strike. The doctors boycotted the OPDs. However, emergency services remain unaffected.
"We had a meeting with the authorities but it was of no use. We will keep boycotting the services until we have a permanent solution of the issue. It is only with the North Delhi civic body where the doctors haven't received their DA and arrears. Every year, we have to put up a strike to get our salaries. What is the point of studying so much when we have to leave attending patients and fight for our basic rights," said Dr Tanuraj Tyagi, president, RDA, Hindu Rao Hospital.
"This issue doesn't arise SDMC or EDMC doctors, only with north civic body HCWs. None of us feel good to abandon the needy people coming to the hospital but every time we are left with no other choice but to strike. Many of the doctors are facing threats from their landlords as they are unable to pay rent on time. So we have decided to continue till we are getting our salaries. Authorities have assured us that we will get our one month's salary very soon. However, we will not stop the strike until our demands are fulfilled," he added.
Previously Medical Dialogues team reported that according to the doctors their salaries are due for the last two months and they have not received their promotion arrears for years. According to the protesting doctors, this is not the first time that their salaries have not been paid, the doctors stated that they had also written to the President in 2019. They had threatened the hospital of committing mass suicide.
Meanwhile, Dr Sunil of Kasturba Hospital stated, " When the government implemented DA for all is there any mention that north MCD should be excluded? Why are we being discriminated? We were supposed to get our DA from July; however, we have not received our arrears yet. We are tired of stagging protests each time we needed our rightful salary. If the authorities do not have enough funding to pay our salaries why are they not asking the central or state government?"
"If the government can arrange a flower shower to respect doctors I am sure they can arrange our DAs. We doctors have been working day and night; however, it's our duty, we don't want any acknowledgment for that. We just want our rightful DAs and salaries. All the festivals including Dashera are done yet we haven't received our dues its utterly disrespectful. We will boycott all the services from 26th if the authorities do not pay any heed to our demands", he added.
Extending their support to the protesting doctors, the president of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Dr Rohan Krishnan stated, "We completely support the demands of Doctors as well as nurses of Hindu Rao Hospital. Salary is a basic right and it is very imperative that every employee is paid on time without any hassle. It is a mental harassment for the doctors that every month they have to fight for the salary."
He further added, " We demand the CM of Delhi Shri Arvind Kejriwal to look into the matter personally and come up with a permanent solution for this problem and do the needful collaboration with Delhi Municipal Corporation. It is never in our mind to go for strike, but it seems that it is the only resort that draws the attention of beurocrats and ministers. Hence , FAIMA doctors Association will be in full support of RDA And other association of Hindu Rao in this agitation."
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