Indiaโs premier medical institute, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), once again became the simmering pot as doctors opposed the institute directorโs directives over new standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sitting members of parliament.
Dr M Srinivas, director, AIIMS, Delhi, on Wednesday wrote a letter to Lok Sabha joint secretary YM Kandpal over the streamlining of treatment facilities for the outpatient department, emergency consultation, and inpatient hospitalisation of the sitting MPs of both houses.
It has also been enlisted that the duty officers will be available to coordinate and facilitate everything.
Dr Rohan Krishnan, president, FAIMA Doctors Association, said, โRequesting @PMOIndia & @mansukhmandviya to take cognisance of the letter released by Director @aiims_nd and take appropriate action against him for promoting VIP culture. @FAIMA_INDIA_ condemns the move by #DrSrinivas as it promotes VIP culture, ignorance of general pts. & Violnc.โ
Talking to The New Indian, Dr Krishnan stated, โOur demand is plain and simple, take back the letter. There was no point in releasing such letters. There were no complaints that MPs had not received treatments.โ
โThere is a limited number of resources and time. Doctors treat patients according to their medical attention requirements and not which paper they are carrying with them,โ he said.
โOn one hand, we are dreaming of ending VIP culture and, on the other hand, these things are happening,โ Dr Krishnan added.
โWe condemn VIP culture. No patient should suffer at the cost of anotherโs privileges. THAT being said, having a protocol to streamline things should not be viewed as derogatory, provided it doesnโt hamper patient care,โ Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) tweeted.
The letter also suggested giving the landline numbers of the officer on duty in case the โVIPsโ want to talk to them.
