Delhi resident doctors withdraw proposed strike

NEW DELHI: The Delhi government on Tuesday reduced OPD registration timing at all its hospitals by 30 minutes, prompting the resident doctors to call off their proposed strike from November 1.

"As the demands have been accepted, we are calling off the strike keeping in mind the concerns of patients," said Vivek Chouksey, President of Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) -- an umbrella body of the resident doctors of the city's government hospitals.

The decision was taken following a meeting between a delegation of the Association and senior officials of the Delhi Health Department.

The resident doctors had threatened to go on strike from Wednesday onwards after in its October 9 order the Delhi government extended OPD timing, saying facilities would remain functional from 8 a.m to 2 p.m.

The order had also said that registration counters would open at 7.30 a.m and close at 1 p.m.

The city administration's move was aimed to avoid crowding and to give more time to patients. The timing earlier was 9 a.m to 1 p.m.

According to the new order issued by the Delhi government on Tuesday, while the OPDs will still remain functional from 8 a.m to 2 p.m, registration counters will be open only from 7.30 a.m to 12.30 noon -- a reduction of 30 minutes from the previous order.

"OPD clinic will function from 8 a.m to 2 p.m, with a 45-minute lunch-break for attending doctors any time after 12.30 p.m," said the order.

The precise timing of the lunch-break will be decided by medical superintendents in consultations with respective heads of departments as per the mutual convenience of the attending doctors.

"Registration for special clinics will be done between 1 p.m and 2 p.m." said the order, adding that the timing would apply to both teaching and non-teaching hospitals.

Following the meeting, the resident doctors' association said the government had also agreed that those coming at 8 a.m could leave the hospital at 3 p.m.