Delhi govt orders shifting of Hindu Rao Hospital Covid patients after doctors go on strike

The move comes days after doctors of civic-run Hindu Rao Hospital went on strike over non-payment of salaries for the last three months.

Hindu Rao Hospital doctors and nurses, who are on Covid duty, protesting outside the hospital Wednesday against NDMC over non-payment of dues. | Photo: Suraj Singh Bisht/ThePrint

New Delhi: The Delhi government on Saturday ordered shifting of all COVID-19 patients from civic-run Hindu Rao Hospital to its own facilities, days after the resident doctors went on a “symbolic indefinite strike” over non-payment of their due salaries for the last three months.

Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain, interacting with reporters, said, as of now 20 patients are at the Hindu Rao Hospital.

“Today, we have ordered to shift all COVID-19 patients from Hindu Rao Hospital to our own facilities. They have the choice to be shifted to LNJP Hospital or any other government hospital nearby their homes,” he said.

Hindu Rao Hospital is the largest municipal hospital in Delhi with 900 beds, and is currently a dedicated COVID-19 facility. Many of its healthcare workers had contracted the infection earlier.

Hindu Rao Hospital falls under the jurisdiction of the BJP-led North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC).

“BJP is doing politics over the issue, they earn through several taxes, and if they can’t run their hospitals, then they (NDMC) should hand them over to the Delhi government,” Jain said.