Succumbing to pressure by resident doctors who were to go on strike from tomorrow over their demands, the Delhi government today included a lunch break of 45 minutes during the OPD hours and reduced the registration timing by one hour.
Following the order, the resident doctors also called off their proposed strike from November 1.
The decision was taken after a meeting between a delegation from the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and senior officials of the Delhi Health Department.
In its October 9 order, the Delhi government had extended OPD timings, saying the facilities would remain functional from 8 am to 2 pm, and registration timing was fixed for 7.30 am to 1 pm so that there was enough time to attend to patients and avoid crowding.
The OPD timing earlier was 9 am to 1 pm.
According to the minutes of the meeting, the OPD registration will take place between 7.30 am and 12 pm, and a lunch break of 45 mins, anytime, after 12.30 has been included.
Another break of 10 to 15 mins may be taken, it said.
"OPD clinic will be from 8 am to 2 pm, with a 45 minute lunch break for attending doctors, any time after 12:30 pm," said the order.
The precise timing of the lunch break will be decided by medical superintendents in consultations with respective head of departments as per the mutual convenience of the attending doctors.
Registration for special clinics will be 1 pm to 2 pm. The timing will apply to teaching as well as non-teaching hospitals, the order stated.
As most of our demands have been agreed upon we are calling off the strike keeping in mind the benefits of the patients," said Vivek Chouksey, president of FORDA.
The resident doctors had threatened to go on strike from November 1 onwards, after the Delhi government had extended OPD timings saying that facilities would remain functional from 8 am to 2 pm.
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