Facing backlash from the medical fraternity and in the wake of the latest violence by a mob over medicos of RG Kar Medical College who were peacefully demonstrating the national call of "Reclaim the Night," the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) on Thursday reversed its decision to call-off the strike.
Just a day after, the national body of medicos took a U-turn and said it would resume the nationwide strike joining lakhs of resident doctors agitating across the country. The association acknowledged that its decision to call off the strike was a mistake that caused "disappointment" within the medical fraternity.
“The events that have unfolded since, particularly the violence last night have shocked and anguished us all. This represents a dark chapter for our profession. Given the gravity of recent developments and the overwhelming call for justice, we have decided to resume the strike, effective immediately,” wrote FORDA in a statement.
“We acknowledge that our earlier decision to call off the strike, made in good faith based on assurances from the Ministry, has caused distress and disappointment within our community. We accept responsibility for this and understand the widespread discontent it has caused,” it added.
Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services on Monday morning and went on strike, demanding better security and safety measures for medical personnel, and the central law.
FORDA’s initial decision to halt the strike, made based on verbal assurances from the Union Health Minister JP Nadda, was met with widespread criticism and backlash from protesting medical students who were demanding enhanced protection for healthcare workers. The protests were sparked by the rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal.
Following the decision, the medical body’s faced major fallout. The key members of the body, including the FORDA president, were ousted from the Resident Doctors Associations of their respective colleges.
Meanwhile, the move of calling off the strike and the latest violence at RG Kar has intensified the protest in the city.
Resident doctors from hospitals under the Ministry of Labour, MCD and NDMC—Bada Hindu Rao and ESI Medical College—which had stayed away from the strike so far, also announced boycotts of OPDs and elective services there.
Following the Tuesday meeting with Nadda, FORDA in a statement had said, "A key outcome of the meeting was the health minister's agreement to form a committee with FORDA's involvement to work on the Central Protection Act. The ministry has assured that work on this will begin within the next 15 days."
Safdarjung Hospital RDA general secretary Ayush Raj said faculty members and the nursing department personnel are also supporting the strike.
He added that the FORDA, which had initially called off the strike, is now rejoining the agitation.
Resident doctors of the GTB Hospital held a protest on Thursday, according to its RDA president Rajat Sharma.
(With inputs from PTI)