AIIMS doctors ask PM to live their life for a day to understand 'stress'

In a letter to Modi, the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) urged the PM to understand the tremendous pressure on doctors at government hospitals due to the poor infrastructure and misbehavior

New Delhi, December 24: Resident doctors of AIIMS have asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to "live" their life for a day to understand their stress as they backing the protest by doctors in Rajasthan for higher pay and promotions.

In a letter to Modi, the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) urged the PM to understand the tremendous pressure on doctors at government hospitals due to the poor infrastructure and misbehavior 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) 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 health care system due to lack of resources and infrastructure," AIIMS RDA president Dr Harjit Singh Bhatti wrote in the letter.

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 health care system as it will restore faith in the medical profession," the letter read.

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 indefinite strike in support of their demands.

"Rajasthan doctors are on strike from December 16, this strike is helplessness rather than intentional because the state government arrested 86 doctors by imposing RESMA," read the letter.

"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 fulfill their promises and stop all atrocities against doctors," it said.

PTI