Delhi Doctors oppose the Odd Even Vehicle Policy – Mr Nipun Goyal

Bengaluru, January 07, 2016: While Delhi governments experimental odd even vehicle policy is all live now, the request for exemption various professionals like lawyers and even doctors was recently turned down. This has lead to wide spread confusion and opposition among all doctors working in Delhi or NCR.

Commenting on the situation, DR. PANKAJ SOLANKI , THE PRESIDENT OF THE FORUM OF RESIDENT DOCTORS ASSOCIATION (FORDA ) which represents RDA’s of various Delhi hospitals like AIIMS, GTB Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge etc, said – After this odd/even formula comes into force Resident doctors will be the worst sufferers since they are the ones who actually perform emergency duties. And those performing emergency duties or night shift will be affected the most. As the emergency duties begin between 4 pm to 9 pm depending on the department for example if a resident doctor has odd number car and he comes on duty on a odd day and by next morning he’ll be free only by 10 or so and by that time even day commuters can only drive as per the scheme. So how is that tired doctor supposed to leave for home?

Another FORDA representative, Dr Balvinder Singh pointed out the doctors are always on call and therefore must be exempted from this law.

While solo women drivers are being exempted citing safety issues, the government has completely rejected the appeal by various medical organisations to give doctors a similar exemption. While it has been said that on proving the doctor is enroute a medical emergency, he/she will be let off but how one can prove that and whether stopping a doctor enroute such emergencies will be risking the patient’s life or not has not been thought.

Although most doctors have opposed this, few like Dr Velmurugan believe that it would reduce the traffic and help the emergency vehicles like Ambulances reach in time. But again point to note is what use will it be when the doctor’s car would still be late because of getting fined/questioned somewhere.

This trial will be on initially only for 15 days and hence doctors have decided to not go on strike for now to oppose this decision, but later on if this policy is made permanent and the result of this 15 days trial period becomes a menace for doctors and patients, doctor organizations plan to oppose it in the interest of patients.

Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)