New Delhi: Doctors’ Strike in Capital Enters Seventh Day Amid Protests
The ongoing doctors’ strike in New Delhi, sparked by the recent rape and murder of a medic at Kolkata’s R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, has entered its seventh day. Non-emergency services, including outpatient departments (OPDs), remain paralyzed as protests continue.
The strike began on Monday evening and has since escalated from medical college campuses to public streets. On Friday, doctors organized a candlelight march from Gate 1 of the Rajiv Chowk Metro Station in Connaught Place. Dr. Parth Mishra, vice president of the UCMS and GTB Hospital Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA), confirmed that resident doctors from various institutions participated in the march.
Demonstrators have formed a human chain in Connaught Place’s Inner Circle, demanding a central law to prevent violence against healthcare workers and justice for the victim. The march, which concluded around 9 pm, featured slogans and placards calling for justice, including one that read, “When the white coat turns red, society turns black.” Some children carrying the tricolor also joined the march.
The striking doctors have announced that their protest will continue, with a planned meeting at 9 am on Monday in front of GTB Hospital’s gate. Following this, the doctors will proceed to Nirman Bhawan at 11 am, according to a joint statement from the RDAs.
Dr. Dhruv Chauhan, a health activist and national council member of the Indian Medical Association’s junior doctors network, criticized hospital administrations for allegedly pressuring doctors to return to work during the protest. Chauhan questioned whether doctors have the constitutional right to protest and argued that better protective measures might have prevented the incident.
The strike has significantly impacted academic activities, outpatient services, ward operations, and elective surgeries across public and private health facilities. However, essential emergency services, including Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and emergency procedures, continue to function.
In response to the situation, a group of Padma Awardee doctors has appealed to the President of India for urgent intervention. In their letter, they condemned the brutal attack and highlighted the rising violence against healthcare professionals, particularly women. They urged law enforcement, policymakers, and society to take decisive action to ensure the safety and dignity of healthcare workers.
On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry announced plans to form a committee to propose measures for enhancing the safety of healthcare personnel. The committee will include representatives from state governments and other stakeholders. The ministry has urged doctors to resume their duties, emphasizing the increasing number of dengue and malaria cases.
A resident doctor from Safdarjung Hospital expressed frustration over the lack of concrete government action regarding the demand for a central law. “After seven days, we are still waiting for a response. The strike will continue indefinitely until our demands are met,” the doctor stated.
