AIIMS OPDs functioning normally, some doctors on strike

The Out Patient Department (OPDs) service at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning normally while some doctors went on a strike today to protest against the passage of the AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007 by Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi, Nov 29 : The Out Patient Department (OPDs) service at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) is functioning normally while some doctors went on a strike today to protest against the passage of the AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007 by Rajya Sabha.

The OPD and other services are being run by those who welcomed the Bill while some doctors who want AIIMS Director P. Venugopal to continue in office have opted to stay away from work.

The AIIMS administration led by Medical Superintendent D K Sharma said, "All OPDs are functioning normally. There is no problem at all. I am supervising the OPDs operations. A few doctors have boycotted the OPDs."

AIIMS spokesperson Shakti Kumar Gupta said that all the centres were functioning normally.

"The Director has appealed to all faculty members, resident doctors, nurses, officers and all the staff to continue their work and activities including teaching and research," he said.

He said the future course of action would be decided later in the day, adding that "action would take against those who stays away from work."

The Bill fixes 65 year as the retirement age of AIIMS Director and the Chandigarh-based Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMR).

The legislative measure stipulates that "the director shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office or until he attains 65 years of age."

The legislation follows a Delhi High Court order that the retirement age of 62 for teaching faculty and 60 for non-teaching faculty did not apply in the case of Director.

The strike was called by Resident Welfare Association after the passage of Bill.

Opposing the passage of the Bill, Anil Sharma, General Secretary of AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) said that we have boycotted OPD service.

"The future course of action will be decided at a GoM later today," he added.

Earlier, Dr. Harsh Kumar, President of AIIMS RDA said that a large section of resident doctors would boycott Out Patient Department (OPD) service.

"In case, the President gives her approval to the Bill, we will intensify our agitation," Dr. Harsh added.

The bill is being seen as an instrument using which Union Health Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss hopes to remove AIIMS's Director P Venugopal.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and AIADMK members on Wednesday protested the introduction of the Bill, saying that it was not listed in the day's schedule.

However, Deputy Chairman K. Rahman Khan said the House Chairman had revised the list of business to include the passage of the Bill and that no wrong was done or any rules violated.

The Bill was passed by voice vote amid protests.

Earlier, Lok Sabha had given its nod to the Bill with the support of the Left parties and the UPA constituents.

In August, the resident doctors had gone on strike when Ramadoss refused to sign their degrees.

ANI