— Photo: PTI

KEEPING SERVICES ALIVE: A doctor checking the X-ray film of the patient at a parallel OPD on AIIMS campus in New Delhi on Friday.

NEW DELHI: Protesting resident doctors and faculty of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences here returned to work on Friday evening following a court order staying the dismissal recommendation against Director P. Venugopal.

The two-day strike was called off after a general body meeting of the faculty and resident doctors. Calling the Delhi High Court order "a first step toward victory," AIIMS Faculty Association vice-president Binod Khaitan said: "We have also called off the hunger-strike. We want Dr. Venugopal reinstated."

Thanking the staff and students for their support, Dr. Venugopal said he had faith in the judicial system and hoped to complete his tenure in the AIIMS. The fight was for its autonomy.

Meanwhile, an enquiry has been ordered into the death of a 35-year-old heart patient Sarvesh Kumar on the institute premises on Wednesday. Medical superintendent D.K. Sharma said: "We have got details of the case and will question the medical staff on duty. If negligence is found, action will be taken."

Earlier in the day angry patients and their relatives shouted slogans and held a protest march on the institute premises. Several patients were forced to return without medical attention. Those coming from outside Delhi for treatment and patients who were given dates for operation were the sufferers.

Parallel OP services

However, on Friday morning the protesting medicos opened parallel outpatient departments in view of the heavy patient turnout. "Doctors are doing what they can and it is now up to the Government to take a sympathetic view of the situation,'' said senior resident Anand Mishra.

Four representatives of associations and unions at the institute, who began a hunger-strike on Thursday, called off the protest on Friday evening. Doctors of various medical colleges and hospitals across the capital extended support to the protesting doctors at the AIIMS.

Security at the institute was strengthened on Thursday night following a minor scuffle between the police and the doctors on the central lawns. The doctors wanted to erect tents to set up a parallel outpatient department.

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