Resident doctors of North Delhi Municipal Corporation-run Hindu Rao hospital have gone on an indefinite strike from Monday over the "recurring problem" of non-payment of salaries which is partially affecting health services.

The doctors had tried to operate a parallel Out Patient Department (OPD) but the hospital authorities prevented them from doing this.

The doctors wrote to the President of India seeking his permission for "suicide". In the letter, the doctors have said that their situation have turned pathetic and are unable to take care of their families. They even do not have money for food... hence, seeking permission for suicide. The doctors said that they have not been paid salaries for three months. They also demanded that the hospital should be handed over to the central government, if the local government and the municipal corporation are unable to run it.

Rahul Chaudhary, President of the Hospitals Resident Doctors Association, said that non-payment of salaries is the recurring problem. The Delhi government and the NDMC should give up this hospital if they cannot guarantee regular payment to the staff. They need a permanent solution to the problem.

A senior NDMC official said the salaries of resident doctors were delayed because funds were not released on time by the Delhi government. The official also said that the government might release funds due to NDMC at the earliest and the salaries will be then paid.

The doctors also complained about poor facilities such as non-availability of filtered water and accommodation. Mr. Chaudhary said that a petition regarding the resident doctors salaries has been filed in the high court and the case is scheduled to be heard on Tuesday.

A senior official of Hindu Rao hospital said that the doctors will get their salary in a couple of days and the problem of accommodation will also be resolved with two new hostels coming up in two months. He also further stated that the Emergency department is working without any issue and patient care is their primary objective. The strike has partially affected the facilities at OPD and wards of the 1,200-bed hospital.