Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday appealed to the doctors who went on strike since Thursday after the National Medical Commission Bill was passed by the Rajya Sabha to resume their duties. The minister said that the bill was in the interest of doctors and patients.

TheMinister made the appeal during a meeting with a delegation of residentialdoctors from various associations who are on strike over certain provisions ofthe bill.

Ithas been alleged by the association that the bill has provisions that areanti-poor, anti-student and undemocratic.

TheResident doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), SafdarjungHospital and RML hospital in Delhi have continued their strike on Fridaystarting Thursday and withdrew all services, including that at the emergencydepartments of hospitals in protest against the bill which seeks to replace thegraft-tainted Medical Council of India.

HealthMinister Harsh Vardhan, while meeting the striking doctors have exlained tothem that this historic bill is in the interest of doctors and patients. The ministerhave also addressed queries that they had on certain provisions of the bill.

TheMinister also appealed the doctors to end their strike and that there is noreason to stroke. He said that doctors should not defy their duties towardspatients.