MAMC doctors hold sit in dharna demanding to restart non-COVID services in Lok Nayak Hospital

Written by Sanchari Chattopadhyay Published On 2020-12-22T09:30:08+05:30 | Updated On 22 Dec 2020 1:47 PM IST

MAMC doctors hold sit in dharna demanding to restart non-COVID services in Lok Nayak Hospital

New Delhi: Demanding to resume Non-COVID services in a phased manner in Lok Nayak Hospital, Resident doctors and medical students of associated Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) have started a sit-in protest outside the director's office on Monday.

The protesting doctors have also sought MAMC to start the academic training of the medicos and to bring back the 1st year PG students from the periphery as well.

The resident doctors, interns, and postgraduate students have been managing Covid-19 patients since the 2,000-bed hospital was converted into a dedicated Covid-19 treatment facility block by block from March through April. However, concerned over the loss of their academic time due to the pandemic, the medicos have now resorted to sit-in protests after noting that the authorities have allegedly not taken any step to resume the non-covid services or to fulfill their other demands yet. The association has shared snippets of their protest on social media as well.

Day 1 of protest for peaceful demand:
1. Start Non-COVID services phased wise at LNH.
2. Start MAMC for academics.
3. Bring back our 1st yr PG Students from periphery.
We will do the same protest again tomorrow 11am at MD Office, LNH. @PMOIndia @CMODelhi @SatyendarJain @ANI pic.twitter.com/19PcRI4O7q
— Resident Doctors Association MAMC (@MamcRda) December 21, 2020

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The Resident Doctors Association (RDA), MAMC had already submitted a letter to the DCP and to the Special Secretary of (Health and Family Welfare) seeking permission to hold a march from MD's office to the Secretariat. However, the authorities rejected it considering the current situation of the ongoing pandemic.

In the letter, the association mentioned, " As COVID warriors we have done all our duties with sincerity leaving aside our studies. But now it's time to restart Non-COVID services in a phased manner at LNH and MAMC. Since no response from the government, we are forced to do a "Request March" on 22/12/2020."

Disappointed over the rejection of the appeal of holding a march, the association stated, " Doctors are considered to be the most honest and disciplined part of the society. We were actively present at the frontline against COVID. But when we try to ask for our demands peacefully we are getting resistance and threats against us. We are simply asking for a peaceful march."

On December 12, the Association had also submitted a letter to the Medical Director of the Lok Nayak hospital seeking the initiation of Non-COVID services in a phased manner.

RDA suggested that MAMC is associated with the Lok Nayak Hospital but if it remains a COVID designated hospital and Non-COVID services are not resumed then it will bar the medicos from gaining knowledge about other clinical problems and diseases than COVID.

It highlighted, " We are proud of our residents for treating 10,000 COVID patients at Lok Nayak Hospital. But it's high time for the government to secure the future of the Doctors and the general public by opening up LNH for non-COVID services as well."

Stating that the residents of Lok Nayak Hospital have been working for 10 months in COVID wards, the association added, " this lead to severe academic loss, delay in thesis completion, change in protocols and thrive to gain knowledge."

The letter addressed to the Medical Director further added, " as per NMC, the Hospital should have allowed non-COVID service by the 1st of December, 2020 to initiate the clinical education at MAMC but no effective measure has been taken till now. The internship has been postponed till 31st of May 2021 in the same regard. The exam schedule of undergraduate students has also been delayed and uncertain at present. No definite guidelines for the compensation of loss of one year of medical education have yet been specified. Because of the postponement of the internship due to a delay in education, the interns may not be eligible for the recently held PG entrance examination."

As per the resident doctors, it has caused a lot of mental pressure as the future of both UG and PG students are being threatened. The association is of the view that COVID will not leave anytime soon hence medical education cannot be put to a halt considering the disease. The letter stated that for the last 10 months, Lok Nayak Hospital is acting as a non-teaching Hospital just like any other non-teaching center.

"Although it has become the largest center of treat COVID patients, it has lost its shine as a medical institution that it once was. We are due to take necessary action with concerned officials for initiation of phased up non-COVID service at Lok Nayak hospital as soon as possible", the letter added.

The association also mentioned that they will be taking strict actions if their demands are not given due importance.

maulana azad medical collegeMAMClok nayak hospitalnon covid servicesresume academic activitiesCOVID facilityprotestrdaResidents doctor strikeresident doctorsResident Doctors Associationmamc doctor

Sanchari Chattopadhyay

Sanchari Chattopadhyay has pursued her M.A in English and Culture Studies from the University of Burdwan, West Bengal. She likes observing cultural specificities and exploring new places.