Latest news with #FAIMA
Mint
09-05-2025
- Health
- Mint
Doctors' associations step into war-footing mode amid India-Pakistan tension; IMA writes to PM offering full support
New Delhi: Doctors across the country are gearing up to handle medical emergencies that may arise in the wake of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following the 22 April Pahalgam terror attack and the retaliatory strike codenamed Operation Sindoor this week. The Indian Medical Association, the country's largest grouping with 400,000 doctors, has activated its disaster management committee. 'We have alerted all doctors across all states/Union Territories,' said Dr Dilip Bhanushali, national president of the IMA. 'We have written to the Prime Minister offering full support to the government and are prepared to serve the nation. Our network of qualified, skilled and experienced medical professionals are available to extend all necessary healthcare support and services during this time of national emergency.' The IMA is working in coordination with the ministry of health to provide medical care, support and emergency responses. 'We are going to organise special medical teams, blood donation drives, emergency response units and mental health support initiatives,' Dr Bhanushali said. Special arrangements are being made for blood donation, stocking up on medicines and getting adequate ambulances and surgical equipment. Doctors in the southern states have been sensitised to participate in the medical emergency plan. In its letter to the PM, the IMA said its doctors are ready to deal with any emergency in the border states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Jammu & Kashmir. Pakistan increased the intensity of its unprovoked firing across the Line of Control using mortars and heavy calibre artillery in areas in Kupwara, Baramulla, Uri, Poonch, Mendhar and Rajouri sectors in Jammu & Kashmir, the defence ministry said on Thursday. Sixteen lives were lost, including three women and five children, due to the Pakistani firing. The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), which represents resident doctors' associations, has called for urgent action for national medical emergency preparedness. It suggested that resident doctors' associations and state medical associations ensure that all health facilities maintain essential medicines, beds, and critical care resources for potential casualties. 'Form rapid response teams in each state with specialised medical personnel,' said Dr Manish Jangra, chairman of FAIMA. 'We call upon all citizens to participate in blood donation drives organised by local medical facilities.' The Resident Doctors Association at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi also has similar plans to deal with an emergency situation and safeguard lives. Dr Indra Shekhar Prasad, president of the AIIMS RDA, said the resident doctors of the country's premier medical institute reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to national service and will extend all medical and logistical support to soldiers and civilians. 'We will refrain from taking personal leave and remain fully available for service,' Dr Prasad added.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
After 33 years, Centre holds review meeting; long working hours for resident docs discussed
NEW DELHI: After 33 years, the centre held a high-level meeting on Tuesday to review and update the Central Residency Scheme, 1992. The meeting, chaired by the newly appointed Additional Director General of Health Services (DGHS), Dr Sunita Sharma, discussed issues such as hostel facilities, long working hours, and salaries of resident doctors - both junior and senior resident doctors - who form the backbone of government hospitals. 'We held the first meeting today and discussed various issues. We will meet again,' Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services (DGHS), told this paper. He said no final decision was made on the issues that were taken up and that the ministry would give its final approval. However, various resident doctor associations claimed that their top demand of a fixed 48-hour per week working hours for resident doctors had been accepted. In the meeting, attended by directors of all major Delhi-based government hospitals, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and various representatives of all major resident doctors' associations, including FAIMA, FORDA, UDF, and IMA-JDN, various issues like hostel facilities, thesis grants, assistant professor salaries, and health benefits for postgraduate and senior resident doctors were discussed. Welcoming the move to hold the first meeting in three decades, Dr Rohan Krishnan, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) 's chief patron, said all their points were taken up. 'One of the crucial issues was the long working hours of senior and junior resident doctors. We had proposed that it should not exceed 48 hours a week with at least one off every week on a rotation basis. The ministry accepted this,' he said. 'The central residency scheme has not been revised since 1992. We feel resident doctors will be more comfortable in the safe working environment, leading to better patient care. If the basic needs of the resident doctors are met, then I think there would be better care for the patients,' he told this paper. He said FAIMA had made the demand with the central government to review the Central Residency Scheme during the RG Kar incident in which a postgraduate doctor was brutally raped and murdered in a government hospital in Kolkata last year. Dr Lakshya Mittal, National President of United Doctors' Front (UDF) on X, said it was a big win for resident doctors. "After today's DGHS meeting, it is confirmed 48 hours/week fixed duty hours will replace the vague term 'reasonable.' He also said the allowance revision was approved. Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson, Indian Medical Association (IMA)-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN), said, 'It was a fruitful meeting, and they have taken note of all the concerns we raised, including ensuring 48 hours/week fixed duty hours for all resident doctors." "Allowances revision for doctors and fixed amount for thesis and books also approved in the meeting and taken further for implementation,' he told this paper.
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Centre agrees to 48-hour work week for resident doctors after first scheme review in 33 years
NEW DELHI: For the first time in 33 years, the Centre on Tuesday held a high-level meeting to review and update the Central Residency Scheme, 1992, and accepted the long-pending demand to fix the duty hours of resident doctors to 48 hours per week. The meeting was chaired by Dr Sunita Sharma, the newly appointed Additional Director General of Health Services (DGHS), and attended by directors of all major Delhi-based government hospitals, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and representatives from leading resident doctors' associations including FAIMA, FORDA, UDF, and IMA-JDN. 'We held the first meeting today and discussed various issues. We will meet again,' Dr Atul Goel, Director General of Health Services, told this paper. He added that no final decisions were made during the meeting and the ministry would take a final call on the recommendations. However, several resident doctor associations claimed that their key demand, a fixed 48-hour work week for both junior and senior resident doctors, was accepted during the discussion. Welcoming the move, Dr Rohan Krishnan, chief patron of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), said, 'One of the crucial issues was the long working hours of senior and junior resident doctors. We had proposed that it should not exceed 48 hours a week with at least one off every week on a rotation basis. The ministry accepted this.' He added, 'The Central Residency Scheme has not been revised since 1992. We feel resident doctors will be more comfortable in a safe working environment, leading to better patient care. If the basic needs of resident doctors are met, then I think there would be better care for the patients.' Dr Krishnan said FAIMA had raised the demand for a scheme review following the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College, where a postgraduate doctor was brutally raped and murdered in a government hospital in Kolkata last year. Dr Lakshya Mittal, National President of the United Doctors' Front (UDF), posted on X, calling the development a big win for resident doctors. 'After today's DGHS meeting, it is confirmed 48 hours/week fixed duty hours will replace the vague term 'reasonable',' he said, adding that allowance revisions were also approved. Dr Dhruv Chauhan, National Spokesperson for the Indian Medical Association–Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN), said, 'It was a fruitful meeting, and they have taken note of all the concerns we raised, including ensuring 48 hours/week fixed duty hours for all resident doctors.' 'Allowances revision for doctors and fixed amounts for thesis and books were also approved in the meeting and taken further for implementation,' he told this paper. In addition to duty hours, the meeting addressed a wide range of concerns including hostel facilities, thesis grants, assistant professor salaries, and health benefits for postgraduate and senior resident doctors.
