AIIMS starts functioning smoothly, Venugopal back at helm

NEW DELHI: Normalcy returned to AIIMS on Saturday, with medical services functioning smoothly and the institute's director P Venugopal resuming his routine duties - clearing files and attending to patients - a day after the Delhi High
Court stayed his proposed sacking.

While health services returned to normality in AIIMS after doctors protesting the proposed removal of Venugopal suspended their agitation on Friday evening following the court order.

"The OPD and emergency services are working normally, with the striking doctors back on the job since Friday night," institute spokesman Shakti Gupta told PTI.

Venugopal, who came to his office around noon, however, did not speak to waiting reporters, with his aides saying he has been advised not to interact with the media as the matter was sub-judice.

AIIMS services had been disrupted since July five after doctors went on a flash strike protesting the recommendation of the Director's sacking by the apex decision-making body of the hospital, headed by Health Minister A Ramadoss.