New Delhi, Nov 2 (Bureau) Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) on Tuesday came out in support of agitating MBBS interns of AIIMS Bhopal who are demanding the release of their promised stipends from the medical institute against the services taken amid the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Hundreds of interns are on strike for the last four days demanding the release of the stipend promised by the AIIMS Bhopal against the services taken. The interns have withdrawn themselves from Non-Emergency services since October 28 and have been protesting peacefully since then.
The interns were posted on duty in COVID-19 wards for 54 days between April 17 and June 6 this year with the promised remuneration of Rs 8,000 per eight hours of a shift. However, the interns are waiting to receive their honorarium for over four months now. The FORDA has written a letter to the Union Health Ministry apprising them of the matter and also demanded the ministry to resolve the issue immediately. “The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), stands in solidarity with the protesting MBBS Interns of AIIMS, Bhopal for their genuine demand of promised COVID Incentive. We would hereby like to request you to kindly take note of the issue & take necessary measures in this regard at the earliest,” read the letter.
“It is extremely unfortunate that even after 4 days of protest, the Hospital Authority has paid no heed to their genuine demand,” it added. Highlighting the role of medical interns in the battle against the pandemic, the association said “along with resident doctors working in Healthcare Institutions across the nation, MBBS Interns too played a significant role, both during the 1st & 2nd waves of the pandemic.” The Medical fraternity stands together in the national response to COVID-19 & has been fighting at the frontline since the beginning of the Pandemic. Meanwhile, AIIMS Bhopal interns had declared to go on a hunger strike from Tuesday onwards which they have deferred after Lok Sabha MP Sadhvi Pragya Thakur assured them to take up their issues before the Union Health Ministry.