AIIMS RDA Calls Off Strike Against NMC Bill And Resumes Services
AIIMS, RDA, New Delhi has called off the strike after meeting Union Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan along with Health Secretary, Ms. Preeti Sudan and Addl. Secretary, Sh. Arun Singhal on Sunday morning. Team of resident doctors led by Dr. Amrinder Singh Malhi, President, Resident Doctor’s Association (RDA) expressed their concerns in the meeting about the National Medical Commission Bill.
On Saturday, AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital in Delhi warned striking doctors to take strict punitive action against them. Agitating doctors blocked the traffic in the vicinity of AIIMS and Safdarjung hospital on Saturday morning.
A detailed discussion was in continuation for three days between resident doctors and health minister regarding certain provisions of the Bill.
The letter issued by RDA, AIIMS states, “Health Minister explained the objectives of bringing the NMC Bill 2019 at length and assured us that all the apprehensions will be duly addressed while drafting the regulations by NMC once it is constituted.”
RDA also requested that as per section 4(3)(g), Director, AIIMS, New Delhi should be made Ex-Officio member of the National Medical Commission at least in its first term.
Letter issued by Sh. Arun Singhal, Addl. Secretary, Ministry of Health, states, “Many provisions of NMC Bill 2019 are first-time initiatives and it is natural to have concerns regarding their implementation. The NMC would follow a consultative process while drafting regulations to implement these proposals vide section 57 of NMC Bill 2019.”
Doctors were assured in the meeting with health minister that representatives of RDAs and student unions from AIIMS Delhi, Safdarjung Hospital, Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and United Resident Doctors Association (URDA), and other associations & professional bodies of the medical profession will be consulted before framing of regulations of the NMC Bill, vide Section 57 of the said bill.
Getting assured by Union Health Minister, a General Body Meeting of RDA, AIIMS and the Executive Committee of the RDA, AIIMS, decided to call off the strike and resume all services by the Resident Doctors with immediate effect.
NMC bill was tabled and passed on 1st August, 2019 in Rajya Sabha. Many doctors were detained by the Delhi Police on last Thursday while they were marching towards Parliament.
Doctors were up in arms against the ambiguity of the contents in the NMC Bill and demanded some amendments in the larger interest of society and the medical profession.
