Medical students at the Safdarjung Hospital on Wednesday called off their hunger strike after the hospital administration assured to look into their demands at the earliest.
The stir, by the medical students to protest alleged lack of basic facilities, affected medical services on Wednesday after resident doctors joined the agitation, following which the hospital administration assured to put in place their demands as early as possible.
“We have called off the strike but our silent protest will continue. This is because all our demands have not been met. Looking into the grievances of the general public, we will no more block the OPDs too,” Dr. Raj, a medical student who participated in the strike, said.
He added, “But, we will wear a black batch as a mark of our silent protest till all our demands are met.”
Dr. N.K. Mohanty, Medical Superintendent, Safdarjung Hospital said, “We had a meeting with the medical students and the resident doctors association. We have assured them that their demands will be met. We had given them a solution and to it they have agreed upon.”
He said, “Their demand for electricity, air conditioner, lift, water supply will be met immediately. But they have to wait for their demand to shift to the new hostel as it has not been handed over to the hospital administration yet.”
Nearly 300 medical students went on a strike and the number swelled to 1,000 when the resident doctors joined them.
The undergraduate students had gone on strike on Monday protesting against lack of basic facilities such as water, ceiling fan, water cooler and clean toilets.
During the day only emergency medical services were functioning. The outpatient department remained non-functional since morning after medical students blocked entry of patients.
“One day has been wasted. We came all the way from Dhanbad and have not been able to meet any doctor till now due to the strike. We were not allowed to enter the OPD or make our registration card. My son is unwell and because of their internal fight we have to suffer,” said Vijay Rana, a patient’s father.
This is the second instance when the students went on strike alleging lack of basic facilities as, on May 3, they had staged a blockade on the ring road for the same reason.
