FORDA-Health Minister Meeting Unsuccessful; Strike to Continue

Things took an ugly turn a couple of days back as police engaged in a brutal crackdown on the protesting doctor fraternity in front of the Safdarjung Hospital. Several members on both sides were grievously injured in the ensuing melee.

Backdrop and te Meeting

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has been protesting against the delay in the NEET-PG counselling process. This delay has been caused due to the stand-off over the new reservation criteria here that calls for reservation of candidates under EWS, whose annual family income is below INR 8 Lakh.

As patient care continued to be affected in 3 of the most prestigious Central Medical institutions: Safdarjung, Lady Hardinge, and RML along with other government hospitals, the Union Health Minister Madan Mandaviya met with the FORDA on Tuesday.

Though all the points concerning the fraternity were put forward and heard by Mr. Mandaviya, the statement by the FORDA considers the response by the minister to be “not satisfactory.” Thus, the body has decided to continue the strike which has now crossed more than 12 days.

Fallout From the Meeting

As far as the aftermath of the violence that ensued on Monday is concerned, the FORDA claims that many of its members were unjustifiably “detained”, while the Faculty Association of Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) and SJH on wrote to the Delhi police commissioner condemning the in human manhandling of the resident doctors. Many doctors have returned their lab coats as a symbolic gesture of rejecting services.

The Delhi Police however denies the use of force or abusive language, although it did detain and release 12 protestors. Currently, FIRs have been registered under rioting, Covid violations, damage to public property, and other heads under the IPC.

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