New Delhi: The doctors’ strike over the rape and murder of a medic at a Kolkata hospital entered its seventh day, leaving non-emergency services like OPDs paralysed.
Initially confined to medical campuses, protests have now spread to the streets, with resident doctors in Delhi holding a candlelight march at Connaught Place, demanding a central law to protect healthcare workers from violence.
The demonstrators, who formed a human chain and interacted with the public to raise awareness, vowed to continue their strike until their demands are met. A meeting is scheduled for Monday morning, followed by a march to Nirman Bhawan.
Dr Dhruv Chauhan, a health activist, criticised hospital administrations for pressuring doctors to return to work, arguing that the strike is a constitutional right. The ongoing strike has disrupted academic activities, outpatient services, and elective surgeries at both public and private hospitals, though emergency services remain operational.
Padma Awardee doctors have also appealed to the President of India for urgent intervention, expressing concern over the rising violence against healthcare professionals, especially women. The Union Health Ministry has promised to form a panel to address the safety of healthcare workers and urged doctors to resume work, particularly given the increasing cases of dengue and malaria. Despite this, resident doctors continue their indefinite strike, awaiting concrete action from the government.
