AIIMS doctors threaten to go on indefinite strike

Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today threatened to go on indefinite strike if the hospital management does not distribute degrees to the pass-outs.

New Delhi, Aug 29 : Doctors at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) today threatened to go on indefinite strike if the hospital management does not distribute degrees to the pass-outs.

They have given deadline to Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, who is also the President of the management of AIIMS, till 5 p.m. to release their degrees.

"We have informed the administration that if Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss will not sign our degree till 5 p.m. this evening then resident doctors will withdraw from emergency services," said Anil Sharma, spokesperson of Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) of AIIMS.

Anil said that if the administration wants to run the emergency and casualties, they would not stop them, but the residents would withdraw from the services.

"The Health Minister will be responsible for it, and if he wants to solve the matter he should call us. As soon he signs the degrees, I assure that we will join the work. We are in favour of patients," he added.

Doctors of AIIMS are on strike since Tuesday evening to protest against the delay in award of their degrees for the past three years.

The strike has bought medical services at the hospital to a standstill with scores of patients waiting outside.

"I asked doctors that I am scheduled for an eye operation today because of which I have not eaten anything since morning. Now, what should I do?," said Parminder Singh, a patient.

Doctors said those who have qualified in various medical courses were facing difficulties in seeking jobs or pursuing higher studies in the absence of their degrees.

Yesterday, over thirty doctors were arrested and released later for marching towards the residence of Ramadoss.

ANI