New Delhi: The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), which observed a nationwide strike on Saturday, has announced that the withdrawal from OPD services will be continued.
The resident doctors are demanding expeditious counselling of the NEET PG 2021 as well as the admission process.
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As per FORDA, the protest saw massive participation of Resident Doctors across the nation. It claimed that more than 10,000 doctors participated in the pan India strike, reported news agency ANI.
“A meeting was held between Hon'ble Union Health Minister & FORDA President at the MoHFW, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi. The detailed discussion held in the meeting was put infront of Representatives of Resident Doctors' Associations of various States in the virtual meeting organised today, 5:00 p.m. onwards,” the Federation’s official statement read.
It was announced that as per common consensus in the meeting with State RDA Representatives, the Withdrawal from OPD services will be continued.
“A nation-level review meeting will be held on Monday (29/11/2021). The medical fraternity of the nation stands united in this fight for justice,” the statement added.
Admission to various courses in NEET PG 2021 has been delayed indefinitely following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Besides expeditious counselling of the NEET PG-2021 and the admission process, the protest was also observed to fast track court proceedings on an urgent basis.
While speaking to ANI earlier about the woes of the young students, FORDA President Dr Manish said, “Our protest is a genuine one. Our first year PG students are seeing seven months delay already and the next date of hearing by the Supreme Court is on January 6. We know that no verdict will arrive on January 6. Students are facing year loss. They can modify reservation policy from next session.”
“Moreover the resident doctors working here are overburdened. They work for 80 hours and in such a situation how can you expect quality care?” he added.
Previously, the Union government had told the Supreme Court that the counselling for the NEET PG medical courses “would be postponed by four weeks” as for reservations in admissions it was 8 lakh annual income criteria for determining the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
A letter of intimation was given to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on withdrawal from OPD services in healthcare institutions from November 27 onwards.
In the letter, FORDA urged the Union government and the Supreme Court to take note of the grievance of Resident Doctors and “take necessary measures for expediting the NEET-PG 2021 Counselling as well as Admission process & to fast-track the Court proceedings on an urgent basis”.
“In case there is no positive response, we will be forced to escalate our protest. The onus of any such unfortunate situation affecting healthcare services will be on the concerned authorities,” it stated.
(With Agency Inputs)
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