Pvt hospitals join strike

Medicos and senior docs from private hospitals joined their government counterparts to protest against quota proposal.

With medicos and senior doctors from private hospitals joining their government counterparts to protest against the proposed OBC quota, medical services in the city will be completely paralysed on Monday.

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On Sunday, the Max Healthcare Group of Hospitals said OPD services at all their Delhi branches would remain shut on Monday. "The decision has been taken in response to the call made by the Indian Medical Association," said the statement. "We're concerned at the treatment meted out to the medical students and doctors in Delhi and Mumbai."

Delhi Medical Association honorary secretary Girish Tyagi called for a 'medical bandh' on Monday and said "all private medical hospitals — including Ganga Ram, Fortis, Apollo, Max, Escorts — would participate".

Dr SK Sama of Ganga Ram hospital said: "If our 150 PG students decide to join the strike, we'll have to close down selective medical services.” Dr Naresh Trehan of Escorts said he would hold a late-night meeting to take a final decision.

On Sunday, medical service remained affected for the second consecutive day as the medicos intensified their stir and went on an indefinite hunger strike. The students refused to withdraw the strike call in spite of a directive from the health secretary to maintain essential services. At AIIMS, the leaves of all faculty members and doctors were cancelled.