Three patients died at Safdarjung Hospital due to the strike of resident doctors demanding security within hospital premises while providing medical services to patients.

The dead included two children, one an eight-year-old who was admitted in the neuro-ward and another who hailed from Badaun, Uttar Pradesh, and an 18-year-old Krishan Murari, who was admitted to the emergency department.

Murari had met with an accident in Gurgaon on Saturday. He was referred to Safdarjung Hospital, but due to doctors being on strike since Sunday, he couldn’t get proper medical treatment. Finally, he succumbed to his injuries.

Due to the ongoing strike, many patients and their relatives have been left without any medical care.

Emergency services at the hospital were hit after the resident doctors went on strike on Sunday following an assault on a doctor by a patient who was the son of a Delhi Police head constable.

Meanwhile, police have registered a case in the alleged assault. According to police, 24-year-old Akshey Kumar arrived at the ER-3 ward of the hospital at around 7 am complaining of abdominal pain. His father, Virender, posted at Safdarjung police station, called up duty constable Vinod at the hospital and informed him that his son would be there for treatment.

During treatment, Kumar allegedly abused the attending junior resident doctor Ravinder Nath Thakur. Doctors alleged that the policemen in the hospital supported the attackers.

“Following an argument, Kumar assaulted the doctor,” said deputy commissioner of police (southwest) Devender Arya. “The doctor suffered injuries to his nose, and hospital security intervened to control Kumar. The police was informed and the doctor was treated at the hospital.”

Meanwhile, president of the Resident Doctors Association Prakash Thakur said, “We intend to continue the strike as doctors need to get a safe work environment. The guards didn’t come in time and the duty doctor was badly beaten for doing his job. Our demands include strict action against the persons concerned and to increase security in the hospital.”