This is How Delhi is Dealing with the Pandemic. By Not Paying Doctors for 3 Months

The coronavirus pandemic has put a strain on doctors and healthcare professionals across the country, who have had to put themselves on the frontlines of the fight, while working long hours with little access to protective gear.

But at four hospitals and 17 polyclinics in Delhi — from where according to recent reports, doctors are threatening to resign en masse — the sacrifices of our healthcare workers apparently haven’t even been rewarded with basic salaries.

The doctors from a number of hospitals under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have said that it has been three months since they were last paid, and that many of them were now struggling to pay up rent, purchase essential supplies, or even commute to work.

In the middle of a pandemic, healthcare workers of 4 hosp. & 17 polyclinics in Delhi haven’t been paid a single penny for 3 months.
‘People need us- so we kept working but now we find it tough to even commute to work as we have no money’- Doctors
My full report on CNN News18 soon pic.twitter.com/FDpszKjZih

— Runjhun Sharma (@Runjhunsharmas) June 10, 2020

The Residents’ Doctors Association at Kasturba Hospital has said that its doctors were considering tendering mass resignations — only because it wasn’t the right time to go on strike, considering the pandemic.

All resident doctors of the hospital haven’t received their salaries for last 3 months (March,April&May). As this is not the right time to go on a strike,so we’ve decided to tender mass resignations:Dr Sunil Kumar,President,Resident Doctors’ Association of Kasturba Hospital,Delhi pic.twitter.com/Tf3bZUXh0R

— ANI (@ANI) June 10, 2020

“We are afraid that if we won’t be paid by June 16 we will have to move for mass resignation. We hope the concerned authorities will take immediate action and take our notice on priority to resolve our issue within time,” a letter issued by the body read.

Similar claims were made by doctors of three other MCD-run hospitals, as well as a number of polyclinics, drawing the ire of people from across the country who demanded that medical workers be paid as soon as possible.

THIS- Doctors of MCD run hospitals in Delhi say they’ve not been paid salaries for 3 months. Warn of mass resignation.

The sad state of affairs during a health crisis, such a shame

4 hospitals run by North MCD.@Runjhunsharmas reports #COVID19India pic.twitter.com/pQJxxmffEx

— Zeba Warsi (@Zebaism) June 11, 2020

This is outrageous and shameful. Shows spectacular failure in governance. https://t.co/m8hKS4fqzb

— Rifat Jawaid (@RifatJawaid) June 11, 2020

Journalist Faye D’souza called the situation a complete failure of administration.

This is a complete failure of administration. https://t.co/q9BPxBBIW2

— Faye DSouza (@fayedsouza) June 11, 2020

To make matters worse, this isn’t the first time doctors who work under the MCD have raised the issue. A month ago, the doctors had said in a letter to the Prime Minister that the lack of salaries was leaving them “in dire economic distress”.

As we quickly approach the date by which the healthcare professionals have now demanded their salaries, there will no doubt be a scuffle over which government isn’t releasing the money. Let’s just hope they don’t eventually decide to shower the doctors with petals instead.