Health professionals at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, have called off their 11-day strike as of Thursday, following an appeal from the Supreme Court. The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) announced their decision to resume work in a statement, citing the Supreme Court’s intervention and its focus on safety and security for healthcare workers.
The Supreme Court, during its hearing on the rape and murder case involving a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, urged the striking healthcare workers to return to their duties. The court indicated that once the doctors resumed work, it would ensure that no adverse actions would be taken against them. “How would the public health infrastructure function if doctors did not return to work?” the court questioned.
Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, sharing a personal experience, emphasized the importance of healthcare professionals, recounting his own time spent in a public hospital. The court has also constituted a 10-member National Task Force, including Surgeon Vice Admiral Arti Sarin, to recommend measures for preventing violence and ensuring safe working conditions for medical staff.
The Supreme Court’s intervention follows nationwide protests triggered by the recent assault on a junior doctor in Kolkata. The court has directed the National Task Force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months. Additionally, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been asked to provide a status report on the investigation, while the West Bengal government has been instructed to report on the August 15 mob attack at RG Kar hospital.