Four months since Doctors Strike in Delhi, promises still on hold

Its been more than four months that the resident doctors in Delhi went on a strike under the banner of FORDA ( Federation of Resident Doctors Association). More than four months since the government while invoking ESMA ( Essential Services and Maintenance Act) gave promises to fulfil the demands in a time bound manner. More than four months now, promises are yet to be fulfilled.

Demands	Promises/Assurances	Actual Situation
Security	500 Home guards were deployed in 17 hospitals and further increase in security guards. A list of 9 other hospital was given for deployment home guards	Home guards are inefficient and the security issue is still a big concern by looking at recent incidences of assaults in GTBH and MAMC
Generic drugs & Surgical consumables	100% were to be made available by 15th Aug. 2015	At times patients had to bring medicines & even sutures are NA at times in emergency
Operation Theatres	Non-functional OTs to be made operational in 2 months time	Em. OT are non functional in many hospitals like MVH, SRHC
Salary	To be disbursed by 7th of every month	Most of the residents receive salary only after 15th of every month
DDR renovation	To be renovated in 3 months	Most of DDRs are still awaiting their renovation

 

CENTRAL GOVERNMENT HOSPITALS

Demands	Promises/Assurances	Actual Situation
Residency Scheme	Was made in consultation with MS/Director of all 3 central govt. hospitals and FORDA members in March 2015. Would be notified as soon as possible	No notification has been issued by MOHFW, India
DDR renovation	Was promised at the earliest	DDRs are in pathetic/filthy condition
Security	Was to be upgraded	No action has been taken yet
Accommodation of resident doctors	The existing hostels were to be renovated and promises were given for construction of new hostels	Renovation work done in few rooms. The roofs are leaking/seepage in most of the rooms.

 

MCD

Demands	Promises/Assurances	Actual Situation
Security issue	More number of guards to be deployed in critical areas	No action has been taken
End of culture of ad-hocism of 44 days	Interview for regular doctors to be initiate within 2 weeks	No action has been taken and 44 days work culture is still persisting at all levels in HRH. Only SDN have conducted interview for Regular SRs/JRs
Repair & renovation of DDR	At earliest	No action has been taken
Life Saving medicines	Would be made available at the earliest	No action has been taken
Salary	On time	Almost always delayed by a month or so.
Grade 4 staff to be increased	Promised to reallocated	No action has been taken

" We were promised a monthly review meeting with the health secretary and one meeting with the health minister. But none of that has happened." said Dr Pankaj Solanki, President FORDA

Regarding the future actions to be taken by FORDA he said, " We are not going to leave this issue. We are going to write to Prime Minister as well as the Chief minister to intervene and look into the welfare of resident doctors. Moreover, to take out Fight forward we are organizing the first Resident doctors convention in Feb 2016 where the problems of resident doctors will be addressed and resolution to the problems shall be found."