Hospitals’ strait amidst upsurge in Delhi’s COVID tally succumbing healthcare system to a near collapse

Image Credit: Clarion India

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.

Resident doctors of NDMC hospitals protest at Jantar Mantar over salary dues | Deccan Herald
Resident doctors of NDMC hospitals protest at Jantar Mantar over salary dues | Deccan Herald

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.

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.

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.

Image Credit: The India Express

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.

 

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