Delhi is observing a healthcare crisis with an exponential growth in COVID cases in the past 4 days amid protests staged by doctors pertaining to the North Delhi civic body. On October 19, the doctors and other staff members had to go an indefinite strike after failing to be fittingly attended by the authorities over salaries that haven’t yet been paid since June 2020.
The hospitals in question are Kasturba Hospital, Rajen Babu Tuberculosis Hospital and Hindu Rao Hospital. Doctors, paramedics and staff while wearing masks and abiding by COVID-19 guidelines held placards appealing to higher authorities to step in and coordinate the critical situation.
Indefinite hunger strike from tomorrow. Agitated covid warriors on 19th day in national capital. #unpaidcovidwarriors @ArvindKejriwal @drharshvardhan @hemantrajora_ @muskanagpal @htTweets @NavbharatTimes @aajtak @CNNnews18 @ndtv @ABPNews @PMOIndia @CMODelhi @BJP4India pic.twitter.com/mbbPZx8Cc1
— Nimesh (@NIMESHVV) October 23, 2020
The resident doctors of Hindu Rao Hospital on Friday went on to block all the entry and exit gates until 7 am in the morning blocking OPD barring patients, staff and doctors. Taking to Twitter, many shared their plight demanding the administration to pay their salaries which remain unpaid for 3 months while some warned of an indefinite hunger strike if the salary dues aren’t timely rewarded.
Protest day : 19
Silent agitation by Resident Doctors on all gates of HinduRao Hospital.
Let people hear our voices.
Let administration respond.
ले के रहेंगे, ले के रहेंगे.. तनख्वाह हम लेके रहेंगे…
3 months salary pending. pic.twitter.com/YNgguGDSWi— RDA NDMCMedicalCollege & HinduRaoHospital (@rdahrhndmc2023) October 23, 2020
Meanwhile, Delhi has by late observed a rapid rise in the daily count of COVID cases. With a diurnal surge in COVID tally, Delhi, on October 21 saw a spike of 3886 cases i.e. the highest in last 26 days. Delhi’s overall record stands at 340,000+ cases with over 6000+ deaths. Amidst all the hue and cry, an indefinite strike going on for the past 12 days is alarming for Delhi’s healthcare mechanism.
Doctors, nurses, lab staff and other workers of the 3 aforementioned hospitals haven’t received their salaries since June. The fund-deficient civic body had earlier this month pronounced that it didn’t have enough money and needed time till late-November to pay off the dues. This state of affairs is daunting for Delhi’s healthcare and medical system given a brisk upsurge in COVID cases.
