Wednesday, May 24 2006 12:06 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: As the medicos' strike against the Government's reservation proposal entered the 13th day today (May 24, 2006), agitating medicos took up the task of trying to thwart the recruitment drive launched by the Government to replace them in the strike-affected hospitals.

The interviews at Safdarjung Hospital were postponed asthe protesting doctors went to different hospitals trying to convince candidates arriving for walk-in interviews to return.

"We have postponed the interviews for resident doctors," Medical Superintendent of Safdarjung Hospital R S Salhan said.

"Three persons had come to Safdarjung Hospital for interview, but we convinced them against it and they have joined us," Dr Kumar Harsh from AIIMS Resident Doctors Association said.

A senior government official said interviews were on for recruiting doctors in hospitals like Safdarjung, LNJP, Maulana Azad Medical College and GTB where the services have beenbadly affected due to the medicos' strike.

"Interviews are being carried out in Union Government-run Safdarjung hospital and others," an official said.

Safdarjung Faculty Association had passed a resolution last evening against the walk-in interviews, saying it would complicate the matter. The resolution has been sent to the Union Health Secretary's office.

Meanwhile, no action has been taken by the government towards eviction of the striking doctors from hostels.

The medical students' indefinite hunger strike in the capital entered the 11th day as the protestors planned a march in the AIIMS campus here which would be joined by the faculty members of the premier health institute.