AIIMS doctors on strike against an amendment Bill

The resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) went on strike on Thursday to protest against the passage of the AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007 by Rajya Sabha.

New Delhi, Nov 29 : The resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) went on strike on Thursday to protest against the passage of the AIIMS (Amendment) Bill, 2007 by Rajya Sabha.

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.

Opposing the passage of the Bill, Dr. Harsh Kumar, President of AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (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.

However, the progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum (PMSF), a part of the RDA, welcomed the Bill and said it will not strike.

Scores of patients are expected to face tough time, as OPD will be shut today.

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