New Delhi, April 26: Resident doctors of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday evening went on an indefinite strike demanding immediate removal of a faculty member who allegedly slapped a resident doctor.
The strike is likely to paralyse many of the hospital functions including routine surgeries, out-patient clinics and academic activities.
"It is hereby informed to the concerned authorities that Resident Doctor's Association, AIIMS has declared an indefinite strike with effect from 5 p.m. on April 26, 2018," said a notice issued by the association and signed by RDA President Harjit Singh Bhatti.
RDA members said that Atul Kumar, Chief of R.P. Centre for Opthalmic Sciences, slapped a resident doctor (name withheld) during rounds on Wednesday in front of patients and other hospital staff for not keeping his patient ready when he was little ahead of his schedule.
"Due to the casual dealing of Atul Kumar by the authorities who has physically assaulted a resident doctor, we have no option but to preserve our self-respect and stop working ... Not only has Atul Kumar failed to lead by example, his repeated misbehavior has tarnished the student-teacher relationship.
"Such people should not be allowed to lead any department, and we demand his immediate resignation as Chief of R.P. Centre, AIIMS," said Bhatti.
Accepting the slapping incident, AIIMS in a statement said the accused faculty member has "apologised repeatedly to the resident, immediately and today morning".
It went on to say that the resident doctor wrote to AIIMS Director acknowledging the apologies tendered and "requested that no further action be taken in this regard".
However, the resident doctors have gone on an indefinite strike.
"As a consequence of this strike, all routine surgeries have been cancelled, out-patient clinics will run in a restricted manner, and all academic activity and exams are postponed indefinitely," said the hospital administration.
AIIMS further informed that it has instituted contingency measures to take care of the admitted patients including those in the ICUs and wards.
"The Director has appealed to the RDA to call off this illegal strike in the interest of patient care," AIIMS said in the statement.
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Pakistan reports two more polio cases; Total tally now 52
ISLAMABAD: At least two more cases of poliovirus were reported in Pakistan, taking the number of infections to 52 so far this year, a report said on Friday.
“The Regional Reference Laboratory for Polio Eradication at the National Institute of Health has confirmed the detection of two more wild poliovirus type 1 (WPV1) cases in Pakistan," an official statement said.
The fresh infections — a boy and a girl — were reported from the Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province.
“Genetic sequencing of the samples collected from the children is underway," the statement read. Dera Ismail Khan, one of the seven polio-endemic districts of southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, has reported five polio cases so far this year.
Of the 52 cases in the country this year, 24 are from Balochistan, 13 from Sindh, 13 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and one each from Punjab and Islamabad.
There is no cure for polio. Only multiple doses of the oral polio vaccine and completion of the routine vaccination schedule for all children under the age of five can keep them protected.
