#NoToNMC: AIIMS Resident Doctors call for an indefinite strike

As the NMC bill is tabled at the Rajya Sabha, over 2,000 Resident Doctors in the All India Institute of Medical Sciences began an indefinite strike. The doctors said that they'll resume their services only if the government amends the bill and takes down the controversial parts.

As a part of this, all medical facilities, including emergency services are closed in the country's premier medical institute. The protesting RDs say that the senior doctors, who are in support of the strike have agreed to take over the formers' duties, making sure that the patients are not affected. "No resident doctor here is working today. We are also marching towards the parliament today because the health minister is not ready to listen to us," said Dr Harijit Singh Bhatti, a senior resident in AIIMS.

Bhatti says that a delegation of doctors met the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan recently, requesting him to make a few amendments in the bill. "He said that he will not make amendments and that the Rajya Sabha will pass the bill today," says Bhatti. The minister, on the other hand, claims that the bill is supported by medical students and doctors around the country. On July 29, he tweeted, "Delighted to get widespread support for #NMCBill from eminent doctors & MBBS students who thanked the Govt today for introducing the Bill. The prestigious umbrella body of doctors Delhi Medical Association also welcomed & supported the bill."

This is the second time in the past two months that the AIIMS RDs are ceasing their duties. The previous one was a strike in the third week of June, in solidarity with the doctors of  NRS Medical College, Kolkata. However, at that time, emergency services were excluded from the strike.