Doctors Unite for Dignity and Reform: Peaceful Protest Rally in New Delhi

New Delhi, October 27, 2023

A groundswell of healthcare professionals, comprising doctors from various specialties and backgrounds, is set to convene in New Delhi for a peaceful protest rally aimed at addressing the systemic challenges and ill-treatment faced by medical practitioners. The Delhi Medical Association is leading this demonstration, as a testament to their unwavering commitment to patient care and the betterment of the healthcare sector.

The rally is planned as a “Chalo Rajghat” march and starts from Maulana Azad Medical College, Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg, to Rajghat. It is scheduled for Sunday October 29^th at 7 AM at Maulana Azad Medical College.

Amidst the prevailing climate of adversities faced by doctors, the rally carries a list of specific demands that the medical community believes are imperative for the advancement of healthcare in India:

1. Central Act for Violence against Healthcare Workers: The rally calls for the establishment of a comprehensive Central Act to protect healthcare workers against violence and demands stringent enforcement of the Delhi Medicare Service Personnel and Medicare Act, 2008.
2. Practical Fire Safety Norms for Nursing Home Registration: There is a pressing need for new and practical fire safety norms for nursing homes. Doctors demand that these new norms be created in collaboration with medical professionals and incorporated into the registration process to enhance the safety of patients and medical staff.
3. House Tax Factor Adjustment for Nursing Homes: The rally seeks to restore the house tax factor for nursing homes in residential facilities to a factor of 2, reflecting the essential role these facilities play in patient care. The Factor was doubled to 4 this year.
4. Enhanced Working Conditions for Medical Trainees: It is crucial to provide better working conditions for resident doctors, postgraduates, and interns. This includes ensuring reasonable working hours, a safe work environment, and adequate rest to maintain the quality of patient care.
5. Proper Cadre Management and Recognition of Seniority: The rally calls for the recognition of seniority and service for doctors, and the implementation of a structured cadre management system to address the career progression concerns of healthcare professionals.
6. Amendment in PCPNDT: Doctors insist on an amendment to the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act to streamline its implementation while preserving its intended purpose.
7. Ending Oppressive Rates by TPA and Insurance Cartels: The healthcare community demands an end to oppressive pricing practices by third-party administrators (TPAs) and health insurance cartels, which often hinder the delivery of quality care to patients.
8. Banning Advertisements Denouncing Allopathic Medicine: Rally participants seek a ban on advertisements and propaganda that denounce allopathic medicine in favour of alternative therapies, ensuring that patients receive information that is scientifically sound and unbiased.
9. Banning Digital Marketing of Healthcare Services: Doctors are not permitted to advertise. However, digital marketing companies openly advertise surgical procedures and lure patients into surgery. The case is similar with laboratories. The rally calls for the prohibition of healthcare service advertisements, including surgical and diagnostic services, by digital marketing companies. This aims to uphold ethical standards in healthcare promotion.

This peaceful protest rally embodies the doctors' commitment to fostering an environment where healthcare professionals can serve their patients with dedication and without fear, ensuring the provision of high-quality medical care to the citizens of New Delhi and beyond.

For further information, please contact:

NAME

Contact Information

Delhi Medical Association
Dr. Ashwini Dalmia, President,  9811542055

Dr Girish Tiwari
Secretary - Delhi Medical Association Club 
Vice president IMA Delhi North Zone

About New Delhi Medical Association:

Founded in 1914, the Delhi Medical Association is a reputable organization of healthcare professionals dedicated to serving and improving the healthcare landscape in the capital region. Established with a commitment to patient care and the welfare of doctors, it seeks to address the pressing concerns faced by healthcare practitioners in Delhi.