Police and doctors fight at Escorts

As 250 physicians from Escorts struggled with police to depart for AIIMS to join the agitation, private hospitals all over the city shut down their OPDs on Wednesday. A bus carrying doctors was stopped by police outside Escorts as it was traveling to AIIMS. Black-badged doctors jostled with the police as they attempted to stop them from leaving. Naresh Trehan, a doctor, had to step in. He instructed the physicians to arrive at AIIMS in private vehicles. Over 200 patients showed up to OPDs in different hospitals, according to Trehan, who added that the Delhi Medical Association had requested that they close them. The rest of the patients were sent away as the emergency wards catered to the critical patients. Approximately 700 patients visit Apollo’s OPD on an average day. More than 50 individuals received care here on Wednesday. The worst-affected patients were those who traveled from nearby cities. “We are Meerut fire victims and were admitted in the hospital for over a month in April. We came here for dressing, unaware that the OPD services will be closed. After waiting for four hours, we have no choice but to leave for Meerut,” said Santosh Gautam. Some patients were seen making rounds at Escorts because they were unable to get a bed. The situation was the same at Ganga Ram Hospital, according to M. S. Bhalla: “My mother, an angina patient, had to be admitted, but there are no beds available. We waited for five hours to be given another date.” The physicians are cooperating, but due to a shortage they are being inconsistent, said Rajesh, a cab driver from Rajasthan: “My brother was admitted on Monday.” Several path labs and clinics also took part in the bandh, and several patients were turned away.