Doctor protests disrupt services, patients face long delays, auto and cab drivers on strike as well

As nationwide protests by doctors continue over the alleged rape and murder of a trainee case at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, patients at Delhi's Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital are experiencing delays in treatment. On Thursday, long queues formed, as the hospital struggled with reduced staffing due to the ongoing strike.

Dr Ajay Shukla, Medical Superintendent at RML Hospital, said that they faced issues due to the influx of patients from distant locations.

"Our faculty are doing their best to attend to patients in the OPD, but due to the shortage of doctors, it's taking more time. Our elective operation theatres (OTs) are functioning, but compared to before the strike, there has been a decline. Emergency OTs are operating normally, but there is a 40% reduction in elective OTs," he said.

Dr Shukla expressed hope that the doctors would end their strike soon, noting that the government has addressed all their demands."I appealed to the doctors yesterday to call off their strike. I hope it will be called off today, as the government has met all their demands. The matter is also being heard in the Supreme Court, and the Chief Justice of India has also made an appeal," he added.

A patient at the hospital told that his operation had been delayed for a long time. "Every time I come here, they delay the operation with some excuse. I have no place to stay and have to sleep on the street," he said.

Another patient, Rakesh Verma, who came for his 32-year-old son's treatment, said he had visited many hospitals, including private ones, without success. "My son's hands and feet have swollen in the last 2-3 days. We have been going to government hospitals, but they are on strike. I even went to a private hospital, but there was no help. Where should I go now?" he asked.

Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry issued an Office Memorandum on Wednesday regarding the National Task Force, formed by the Supreme Court to ensure the safety of medical professionals. The panel will be headed by Cabinet Secretary, Government of India as its Chairperson, and has been constituted following the Supreme Court's direction on August 20.

Due to the ongoing strike by resident doctors, services at AIIMS, Delhi, are severely impacted. OPD services are down by 65%, admissions by 40%, operation theatres reduced by 90%, laboratory services by 30%, radiological investigations by 55%, and nuclear medicine by 20%, as of 4:30 pm yesterday.

On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, sparking nationwide strikes and protests by the medical community.

Commute also disrupted

Not just patients, commuters in Delhi-NCR also faced a tough time, as taxi and autorickshaw drivers began their two-day strike on Thursday, demanding better compensation from cab aggregator services. Taxi and auto unions said inadequate compensation, coupled with aggergators launching bike taxi services has hit their livelihood.

80% of autorickshaws and taxis are off the road in the national capital, Delhi Auto Taxi Transport Congress Union (DATTCU) president Kishan Verma claimed, and announced that a protest will be held at the Jantar Mantar.

Anil Pradhan, a cab driver, demanded a ban on bike taxis that offer services using non-commercial numberplates. "The government should step in and ban the commercial plying of vehicles with non-commercial numberplates. It is becoming difficult to make ends meet," he said.

Adarsh Tiwari, another cab driver, said, "The companies offer us very less rate for our services. Due to this, we are unable to pay the installments of our vehicles and meet other expenses. We are unable to ensure good education for our children and sufficient food for our families."

People took to social media to complaint about delay in getting cabs and cancellations.

"Spent the last 35 mins trying to get a cab in Noida for Delhi. What's wrong with @Olacabs @Uber_India @rapidobikeapp," X user Prashhush posted.

Another X user, Kshitiz Agarwal said,"Is it only me or uber doesn't work anymore now? Couldn't find a uber cab for 30 mins nowadays even at posh localities like south extension, new delhi #uber #ola."

DATTCU president Verma said that "we will also be holding a protest at Jantar Mantar to demand a ban on plying of private vehicles by cab aggregator companies. Why are we made to take permits and pay taxes when private vehicles are allowed to ply? We demand that the government impose a ban on them."