Patient dies due to lack of treatment at AIIMS as docs on strike

New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) A critically ill patient, who was reportedly not admitted to the AIIMS emergency ward, died on the hospital premises due to lack of treatment as doctors in the institute are on strike in protest against Director P. Venugopal's dismissal.

Sarvesh Kumar, 35, a resident of Farukabad, was brought in critical condition to AIIMS by his brother this afternoon but he was reportedly asked to return as the doctors were on strike. He died on the premises of the hospital late tonight.

Medical services in AIIMS, including emergency and casualty, were paralysed as doctors and medical students went on strike.

Expressing grief over the death of the patient, AIIMS Residents' Association President Binod Patra held Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss responsible for the incident and for the inconvenience caused to scores of other patients in AIIMS today.

''We are sorry for the patient's death. We had time and again requested the Prime Minister's office to intervene and stop Dr Ramadoss from taking today's decision. We had also informed the PMO that we will be forced to go on agitation if Dr Venugopal is dismissed,'' Dr Patra told UNI.

''Dr Ramadoss is responsible for the medical lock-out today and the patients are paying for his autocratic takeover of AIIMS,'' he added.

Patients were either returned or asked to go to other hospitals as the functioning of the entire healthcare institute came to a grinding halt.

The AIIMS Faculty Association, which is on a 24-hour work boycott, will review the situation at its general body meeting tomorrow evening. Employees of the institute will also organise a meeting tomorrow and take a decision about work boycott.

''The faculty is with Dr Venugopal.... we demand that he be reinstated and Health Minister Anbumani Ramadoss tenders an apology,'' a senior Faculty Association Member said.

The members of the Faculty Association will hold a candlelight march in AIIMS tonight.

Within minutes of the controversial decision, resident doctors and medical students went on indefinite strike and demanded that Dr Venugopal be reinstated and the Health Minister's resignation.

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