Rohit Shishodia

Despite a decline in Covid-19 cases, doctors of Andaman and Nicobar Islands Institute of Medical Sciences (ANIIMS) have been working without break. Hence, the faculty has requested the administration to direct ANIIMS to grant vacations before the third wave hit India.

The doctors have assured that leaves will be taken in a manner that it will not disrupt the functioning of the hospital.

“ANIIMS faculty has been working without break since the advent of Covid-19 and has been denied any form of vacation or holidays,” it said in a letter to the administration.

“We stand shoulder to shoulder with the administration to fight Covid but the past stressful years have worn down the faculty mentally and it would be better if we get vaccinations. Also, with regards to the winter vacation in 2020, it was also cancelled, but no action has been taken till now to compensate for those leaves by conversion to earned leaves,” the letter read.

The doctors said that various healthcare institutions like All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) have announced Summer Vacation for the staff, however, no such leave has been granted for ANIIMS staff.

“We would humbly request you to provide directives to the Director, ANIIMS to a decision regarding vacation and other leaves and allow us to avail our rightful leaves before the third wave hit us,” it said.