While putting out a post on X, the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association said, "We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court’s appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors"
The doctors at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday called off their 11-day strike to protest the rape and murder of a Kolkata doctor after an appeal from the Supreme Court on the matter.
Earlier the day, the top court had asked protesting doctors to resume work and had assured them that no adverse action would be taken after they rejoin.
While putting out a post on X, the AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association said, “We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court’s appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors . We commend the Court’s action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority.”
While speaking to the media on the matter, RDA AIIMS Delhi president, Dr Indra Shekhar Prasad said, “We are doctors. We provide public service and we want to continue our main service. We never want to go on a strike…But the incident at RG Kar was so gruesome and it exposed the safety and security lapses in our health system. So, we had to go on a strike. This was not easy for us. Strike was more difficult for us than duty. But Supreme Court gave direction and formed a task force…We appreciate this and hope that there will be justice in RG Kar incident…We will resume our duties at the earliest.”
The doctor associations started a nationwide protest on August 12, halting OPD services. Emergency services continued as usual.
The brutal assault and murder of the junior doctor sparked nationwide protests. Her body was found on August 9 with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of the state-run hospital’s chest department. A civic volunteer was arrested by the Kolkata Police in connection with the case the following day.
(with PTI inputs)
