New Delhi: Resident doctors at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital have called off their indefinite strike after the hospital administration assured them that a series of security measures would be implemented within 15 days following the alleged assault of doctors and female staff by relatives of a patient.
The Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) informed the Medical Superintendent that it was withdrawing the protest after a meeting with the hospital administration on September 15. However, the association warned that it would restart the strike if the promised measures were not implemented within the stipulated 15-day period.
Hospital Agrees to Strengthen Security
According to the minutes of the meeting, the hospital administration agreed to immediately strengthen the deployment of security personnel and provide protective equipment, including wireless communication devices, helmets, batons and shields.
The administration also agreed to strengthen and enclose hospital gates to prevent unauthorised entry and ensure controlled access to the premises.
Additional male and female security guards will be deployed in sensitive areas, including the labour room, high dependency unit (HDU) and nursery departments.
Protection of Doctors and Female Staff Assured
The administration assured the resident doctors that measures would be taken to protect doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers, including women staff.
It also agreed to take action against those responsible for the recent alleged violence.
Another assurance given to the protesting doctors was that they would not face any administrative or monetary action for participating in the strike.
Doctors Had Demanded Action Over Alleged Assault
The resident doctors had launched the indefinite strike on September 14 following an alleged assault on doctors and hospital staff by relatives of a patient.
During the protest, doctors alleged that a mob attacked them with sticks and stones and attempted to forcibly enter residential quarters. They further alleged that stones were thrown at the quarters and that doors were banged on.
Female staff members were also allegedly abused and threatened during the incident, according to the doctors.
The RDA had demanded a high-level impartial judicial inquiry, immediate arrest of those responsible and registration of an FIR by the institution. The doctors had also announced that emergency and elective services would remain suspended until strong and immediate action was taken.
RDA Sets 15-Day Deadline
Among the other demands were enhanced security personnel inside the hospital, strengthening and enclosing the gates, controlled access to the premises and effective protection for resident doctors, nursing staff and other healthcare workers.
The association had maintained that verbal assurances would not be sufficient and sought concrete, time-bound implementation of the security measures.
Following the September 15 meeting, the administration agreed to implement the measures within 15 days. The RDA subsequently called off the strike but retained the option of resuming the protest if the commitments were not fulfilled.
Security Measures to Be Reviewed Every 15 Days
It was also decided that an internal committee comprising representatives from the RDA, hospital administration and concerned departments would meet every 15 days.
The committee will review security-related concerns and monitor whether the measures agreed upon by the administration are being implemented.
Important Highlights
- Resident doctors at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital have called off their indefinite strike.
- The strike followed allegations that doctors and female staff were assaulted and threatened by a patient’s relatives.
- Hospital administration assured implementation of security measures within 15 days.
- Additional male and female security guards will be deployed in the labour room, HDU and nursery.
- Protective equipment including wireless devices, helmets, batons and shields will be provided to security personnel.
- Doctors participating in the protest were assured that they would face no administrative or monetary action.
