In a major relief for patients, hundreds of resident doctors in Delhi returned to work on Friday after ending their 11-day strike over the alleged rape and murder of a medic in Kolkata, following an appeal by the Supreme Court. (Pics/AFP and PTI)
Updated On: 2024-08-23 02:17 PM IST
Compiled by : ronak mastakar
Healthcare professionals across the country ceased work after the body of the medic, a junior doctor, was found in a seminar room of the West Bengal government-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9
Non-emergency services, including OPD and diagnostics, were shut as medics, including resident doctors, of major central and Delhi government-run hospitals struck work on August 12 evening, causing hardships for patients and delay in treatment
Resident doctors, including those of Centre-run AIIMS, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College and Delhi government-run LNJP, Maulana azad Medical College, GTB Hospital and Indira Gandhi Hospital, resumed duties after two national bodies announced the end of the strike on Thursday evening
The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) took the decision after the Supreme Court issued directions about the safety of healthcare personnel
While it appealed to medics across the country to rejoin duty and assured that no coercive action will be taken against them, the top court also said judges and doctors cannot go on a strike since they deal with matters involving life and liberty
Except West Bengal, resident doctors' associations of all other states have called off their strike
In Bengal, the epicentre of the protests, healthcare services remained affected at state-run hospitals as agitating junior doctors have said they would continue their ceasework
Junior doctors at the state-run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Jharkhand's Ranchi resumed work on Friday as they withdrew their 'pen down' agitation over the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic in Kolkata
The decision came after the Supreme Court had on Thursday appealed to the agitating doctors across the country to get back to work, saying that "justice and medicine" cannot be stopped. It also directed that no coercive action would be taken against them