Lok Sabha Question No. 3308 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-12
Subject: Strike by Doctors
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Poonamben Hematbhai Maadam, Su Thirunavukkarasar, Deepak Baij

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3308 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12 TH JULY, 2019

## STRIKE BY DOCTORS

## 3308. SHRIMATI POONAMBEN MAADAM: SHRI SU. THIRUNAVUKKARASAR: SHRI DEEPAK BAIJ:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the details of the strikes held in Central Government hospitals and the numb r out of them caused by altercation between attendants and doctors during the last five years;

(b) whether the Union Government has taken note of nation - wide agitation a d strike by doctors in Government hospitals resulting in suffering and death of many patients due to non - availability of timely medical treatment recently, if so, thedetails thereof and the number of patients who died due to strike in Government hospitals in various parts of the country;

(c)  whether  the  Union  Government has  found  particularly  insensitive  approach by  the  State Governments towards the agitating doctors, if so, the response of the Government thereto;

(d)  whether  the  Union  Government has  taken  any  action  to  halt  the  doctors strike  including intervention to bring the situation under control in certain States and issue instruction to take action on doctor's demands, if so, the details thereof; and

(e)  the  other  steps  taken  by  the  Union Government  to  ensure  that  no  strike  is  held causing inconvenience/suffering to the patients in the future?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

(SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

(a)The details of strikes reported (in days) in Central Government hospitals during la years is as under: -

|                             | 2015          |   2016 | 2017   | 2018   |   2019(till date) |
|-----------------------------|---------------|--------|--------|--------|-------------------|
| Safdarjung Hospital         | Not Available |     01 | 01     | 02     |                04 |
| LHMC & Associated Hospitals | 01            |     01 | Nil    | Nil    |                01 |
| Dr. RML Hospital            | Nil           |     02 | Nil    | Nil    |                02 |

Number  of  the  strikes  (in  days)  caused  by  altercation  between  attendants  and  do during last five years are as under: -

|                             | 2015          | 2016   | 2017   | 2018   |   2019(till date) |
|-----------------------------|---------------|--------|--------|--------|-------------------|
| Safdarjung Hospital         | Not Available | Nil    | Nil    | Nil    |                04 |
| LHMC & Associated Hospitals | Nil           | 01     | Nil    | Nil    |                01 |
| Dr. RML Hospital            | Nil           | 02     | Nil    | Nil    |                02 |

- (b)  As far s three Central Government Hospitals namely Safdarjung, Dr. RML and LHMC & Associated hospitals are concerned, emergency services of the hospital were not affected during strike. All patients attending the Emergency were seen and provided with treatment. No p died due to non - availability of timely medical treatment due to strike recently.

(c) to (e)   Since Health is a state subject, no such information is maintained centrally. How Union Government from time to time requests State Government to take appropriate measures ensure safety and protection of doctors on duty in the hospitals.

The   following   steps  have   been   taken   by   the   Government/hospitals   to no strike is held causing inconvenience/suffering to the patients in future:

- i. Security has been strengthened by increasing the number of security personnel, fo rmation of  Quick  Response  Teams  (QRTs),  installation  of  CCTV  cameras  etc.,    to  protec doctors/staffs from any incidence of manhandling;
- ii. Training  to  doctors  in  soft  skills  for  handling  patients  in  critical  and  em situations;
- iii. Circulars  are  issued from  time  to  time  by  the  hospital  authorities  sensitizin doctors/staffs  to  refrain  from  any  such  activity  which  would  disrupt  t care service in these hospitals;