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The Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS, New Delhi called off their 11-day strike after the Supreme Court’s intervention in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9.
“We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court’s appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors,” the association said in a statement.
The resident doctors expressed thanks to the Supreme Court for taking note of the Kolkata rape case and addressing the issue of safety and security for healthcare workers across the nation.
During a hearing on the Kolkata murder-rape case on Thursday, the Supreme Court reiterated its appeal to the protesting doctors to return to their duties. The court assured that no action will be taken against protesting doctors if they resume duty today.
“If doctors have resumed duty, we will prevail upon the authorities not to take any adverse action. But they must first come back to work. Otherwise, the people who need their services the most are deprived of their services. That's the only concern. How can public health infrastructure run if doctors don't resume work?” the court said.
In the wake of the rape-murder of the trainee doctor and the subsequent attack on the Kolkata hospital, the Supreme Court ordered the formation of a 10-member National Task Force (NTF) to monitor the safety of doctors in India.
A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud had observed that a lack of institutional safety norms at medical establishments against both violence and sexual violence against medical professionals was a matter of serious concern.
The NTF, formed under the Union Health Ministry, has been tasked with forming action plans under two sub-heads --Preventing violence, including gender-based violence against medical professionals; and providing an enforceable national protocol for dignified and safe working conditions for interns, residents, senior residents, doctors, nurses and all medical professionals.
The Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS, New Delhi lauded the Supreme Court's direction of forming of task force.
"We commend the formation of the National Task Force to ensure that these concerns (of safety and security of healthcare workers) are addressed promptly and effectively," the RDA said as it called off strike.
