Protest by Resident Doctors Enters 11th Day Amid Supreme Court’s Call for Work Resumption

The indefinite protest by resident doctors in Delhi, triggered by the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic at a Kolkata hospital, has reached its 11th day, despite the Supreme Court urging the protesters to return to work. The ongoing demonstration has severely impacted patient services across hospitals in Delhi.

Last Tuesday, the Supreme Court took suo motu notice of the Kolkata case and established a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to develop protocols for the safety and security of healthcare professionals. Headed by Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, the task force has been given three weeks to submit its interim report.

However, some doctors’ associations have voiced concerns about the task force’s composition. They argue that the selection does not include resident doctors, who face real-time issues, nor does it include professors from government medical colleges, where violence against doctors is more common compared to private hospitals.

In response, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has approached the Supreme Court seeking interim protection for doctors until the NTF’s recommendations are implemented. The plea emphasizes the need for adequate representation from resident doctors to address their daily challenges effectively.

The petition calls for several measures, including the installation of CCTV cameras in sensitive areas such as hospital and hostel entrances, and compliance with the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. It also demands the establishment of a 24-hour distress call facility to provide immediate support to healthcare workers in emergencies.