Medical students block entry to Safdarjung

Both entry points of Safdarjung Hospital remained choked for 30 minutes around 9 on Monday morning as protesting students from Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College did not let anyone enter the premises.

Both entry points of Safdarjung Hospital remained choked for 30 minutes around 9 on Monday morning as protesting students from Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) did not let anyone enter the premises.

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Students protesting poor infrastructure and lack of basic facilities held placards and shouted slogans against the hospital administration's alleged disinterest in revamping the facilities.

Classes at the teaching institute of Safdarjung Hospital had been suspended on April 23, when students first protested against lack of air conditioning, improper ventilation, no drinking water facilities, etc.

“Classes haven’t resumed since then. We will not let the faculty enter the institute or take classes unless our basic demands are met,” said a student, unwilling to be quoted.

The institute building has a centralised water purifier, which has allegedly been out of order for the last one-and-half years. Similarly, the elevators that not only ferry students and teachers but thousands of patients to the pathology department on the fourth floor have been dysfunctional for more than two years.

“We are looking into the problems and they should be resolved at the earliest,” said Dr V.K. Sharma, principal, VMMC.