Backing the protest by doctors in Rajasthan for higher pay and promotions, resident doctors of AIIMS asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "live" their life for a day to understand their stress.
In a letter to Modi, the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) on Saturday urged the PM to understand the tremendous pressure on doctors at government hospitals due to the poor infrastructure and misbehaviour of patient's kin during emergency situations.
We are lucky to have an active PM like you... Now RDA AIIMS requests you to put on a white apron and spend one day as a government doctor to understand the tremendous amount of pressure we face, the agony of patients who did not get treatment, the dying healthcare system due to lack of resources and infrastructure.Harjit Singh Bhatti, RDA President, AIIMS in his letter to the PM.
He said it will also set an example to ministers who level allegations against doctors for cheap publicity.
"Your one day as a government doctor can be a turning point for the healthcare system as it will restore faith in the medical profession," the letter read.
We would like our Prime Minister to spare a day, come here, and work with us. Only then he will come to know what problems we face. We have to bear wrath of public even when it’s not our fault. It’s fault of government and the lack of infrastructure. We work under pressure and threat.Dr. Rajiv Ranjan, AIIMS
Several doctors in Rajasthan were arrested as the state government invoked the Rajasthan Essential Services Maintenance Act (RESMA) for three months after the All Rajasthan In-Service Doctors' Association warned of an indefinite strike in support of their demands.
Rajasthan doctors are on strike from 16 December. This strike is helplessness rather than intentional because the state government arrested 86 doctors by imposing RESMA.The letter to the PM
"Their demands were previously accepted by the Rajasthan government but now they refuse to fulfil them, resulting in mistrust and anguish among the hardworking doctors. Please instruct the Rajasthan government to fulfil their promises and stop all atrocities against doctors," it said.
(With inputs from ANI and PTI)
(Breathe In, Breathe Out: Are you finding it tough to breathe polluted air? Join hands with FIT to find #PollutionKaSolution. Send in your suggestions to fit@thequint.com or WhatsApp @ +919999008335)
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)