Medical students call off strike at Safdarjung Hospital

Medical students at Safdarjung Hospital today called off their three-day-long hunger strike after the hospital administration promised to look into their demands at the earliest.

The stir by students protesting against the alleged lack of basic facilities affected medical services today after resident doctors joined the agitation.

That forced the hospital administration to agree to look into their demands at the earliest.

"We have called off the strike, but our silent protest will continue," Raj, a medical student who participated in the strike, said. "This is because all our demands have not been met. But looking into the grievances of the general public, we will no more block the OPDs either."

The student said they would all wear black badges to work as a mark of their protest until all their demands are met.

Dr NK Mohanty, medical superintendent of the hospital, said, "We had a meeting with the medical students and the resident doctors' association. We have assured them that their demands will be met. We had given them a solution and to it they have agreed."

He said, "Their demand for electricity, air-conditioners, lift, water supply will be met immediately. But they have to wait for their demand to shift to the new hostel as it has not been handed over to the hospital administration yet."