NEW DELHI: In a striking show of dedication and defiance, resident doctors turned a bustling city road into a multi-specialty OPD, determined to prove that their commitment to patients remains unwavering, even during a strike. Their unusual protest outside Nirman Bhavan, the Ministry of Health's headquarters, was a powerful message: they are ready to serve but feel unsafe in hospitals without a central protection law.
The street OPD drew a mix of curiosity and admiration from the public. Patients, despite the inconvenience, praised the doctors for their cause, understanding that the fight for safer working conditions benefits everyone.
37-year-old Ankur Shah, who has been following the protest, said he came from Dakshinpuri to get a check-up after hearing about the street OPD.
"I’ve had ankle pain for a long time. When I heard the doctors were running an OPD here, I came straight away. Normally, getting a consultation at AIIMS means waiting months and dealing with endless queues. Here, it was done in minutes,” Shah said.
The doctor who consulted Shah prescribed a few diagnostic tests and even offered a follow-up after the results come in. “He gave me his mobile number and assured me I could reach out anytime,” the patient added
Though Shah had missed out on treatment due to the closure of OPDs during the strike, he supported the doctors’ cause. “No one would want their daughter to become a doctor if women aren’t safe at work, even in hospitals. What they’re fighting for is justified, and I believe the public understands that,” he said.
Despite having to sit on bare concrete for their consultations, patients didn’t seem to mind. “For us, doctors are the hospitals. We go to hospitals because of them. If they’re forced to sit on the road because they feel unsafe inside, then we’ll follow them wherever they go,” said Rubina Khatoon, who came from Laxmi Nagar for an eye check-up.
The doctors, however, felt sorry for a couple of elderly patients who struggled with the hard surface of the road. “We requested the ministry to provide tables and chairs, but they denied our request,” said a member of AIIMS RDA
However, the day was not without challenges. After several attempts to persuade the doctors to vacate the area, police shut down nearby shops selling water, tea, and refreshments in an effort to discourage the protest. The public urinal next to Nirman Bhavan also ran out of water, adding to the discomfort.
Shopkeepers claimed they were instructed by the police to reopen only after the doctors left. But the doctors remained unfazed. “These petty tactics can’t deter our resolve,” said a doctor from Maulana Azad Medical College, who was busy ordering water bottles from an online grocery app.