Kolkata rape-murder: Delhi AIIMS doctors to hold OPD outside health ministry today

Doctors have decided to provide elective outpatient services outside Nirman Bhawan on Monday (August 19) as they continue their strike for the eighth day over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

Resident doctors will be available to provide elective OPD services in around 36 specialties, including medicine, surgery, obstetrics & gynaecology, paediatrics, ophthalmology, and orthopedics, to patients outside Nirman Bhawan on Monday, according to a statement by the AIIMS RDA.

However, emergency services will continue as before at the hospitals.

Strike enters second week

The doctors' strike in the national capital over the rape and murder of a medic at a state-run hospital in Kolkata completed a week on Sunday (August 18) and is now entering its second week, causing difficulties for patients.

Late Sunday, resident doctors announced that their strike will continue.

The doctors will proceed to Nirman Bhawan at 11 am, according to a statement by RDAs.

A resident doctor from the Safdarjung Hospital said a concrete response from the government regarding bringing the Central Protection Act for medics would have offered some relief.

‘Still waiting for concrete response from govt after 7 days’

"However, after seven days, we are still waiting. As stated earlier, the strike will continue indefinitely until our demands are met," the doctor said.

Protests began in New Delhi on August 12 in the evening. Initially restricted to medical college campuses, doctors started taking to the streets from Friday (August 16).

The action committee, formed on August 15 for the central law, includes members from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lady Hardinge Medical College.

(With agency inputs)