Strongly condemning the detention of several resident doctors in the national capital, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has called for a complete shutdown of all healthcare institutions. “We strongly condemn this brutal act and demand immediate release of all Resident Doctors. There will be a complete shutdown of Healthcare Institutions. The Medical Fraternity of the nation must come forward in support. We urge all State RDAs to join the agitation!” the doctor’s association tweeted. The development comes just two days after resident doctors threatened to go ahead with their intention of mass resignation.
According to Dr Anuj Agarwal, resident doctor of Safdarjung Hospital, they have been peacefully protesting for several days by following every law and order. “But we will not tolerate verbal abuses and physical violence by mail cops on our female colleagues. This is extremely shameful and cannot be expressed in words. Police not only snatched the phones of doctors but dragged female doctors by touching them inappropriately. This is the respect for COVID-19 warriors! Great,” Dr Agarwal was quoted as saying by a news report.
Delhi Police has detained protesting Doctors near ITO
Who came in support to #ExpediteNEETPGCounselling2021
These Corona Warriors were trying to convince the Police
This is barbaric images are heartwrenching @sushant_says@yuvahallabol @NidhiTanejaa@FordaIndia@FAIMA_INDIA_ pic.twitter.com/SFH7LoPHfB— All India Dental Student Association/DENTODONTICS (@dentodontics) December 27, 2021
Why residents doctors are protesting?
Residents doctors are protesting against the delays in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Postgraduate) or NEET-PG. They started a protest from Maulana Azad Medical College and were marching towards the Supreme Court when police stopped them near the ITO Post Office. According to FORDA, they were brutally thrashed, dragged and detained by the cops. It is pertinent to mention that NEET exams which were scheduled for May were postponed to September because of the second wave of the coronavirus. Later in November, the government said that a committee would be formed that will submit a report to the top court.
@FordaIndia pic.twitter.com/xd0vIKYSWK
— RDA_UCMS & GTBH (@RdaUcms) December 27, 2021
“A Black Day in the history of Medical fraternity of the nation. Resident Doctors, the so-called “Corona Warriors”, protesting peacefully to Expedite NEET-PG Counselling 2021 in Delhi were brutally thrashed, dragged & detained by the cops. There will be a complete shutdown of all Healthcare Institutions from today onwards. We strongly condemn this brutality & demand immediate release of FORDA Representatives & Resident Doctors,” the FORDA said in a release.
Several doctors have shared the video of the incident on social media platforms.
The FORDA has urged the medical fraternity of the entire country to condemn the act and also urged all state RDAs to join the agitation.