Safdarjung Doctors' strike enters Day 2; patients suffer

The doctors had called for a strike at the hospital yesterday after one of their colleagues was allegedly beaten up by relatives of a patient.

Though the striking doctors have opened a parallel Out Patient Department(OPD) near the emergency wing of the hospital to cater to patients, many people from several states like Bihar, Assam, Madhya Pradesh and neighbouring areas, who required emergency services were left to fend for themselves.

"The main OPD in front of the college is being run by consultants. We have not withdrawn our strike and will continue till this issue of security of the doctors is resolved. We have opened up a parallel OPD so that patient care suffers the least," Dr Chandrabhan Jatav, RDA president, Safdarjung Hospital said.

Minister of State for Health Dinesh Trivedi had tried to intervene yesterday but talks remained inconclusive.

"We want the paramilitary forces to man the hospital. There is no count as to how many times doctors have been manhandled and beaten up by patient's relatives. We want to finally put an end to all this," Dr Jatav said.

Another round of talks between the Medical Superintendent and the striking doctors was on at hospital.