This time it’s different.

Over more than 30 years in this field, I have been part of numerous protests and strikes.

As medical students, we went on protest over a question paper leak.

Later, in support of our interns and post-graduate residents who were demanding release of their stipend which was pending for 3 months.

As interns ourselves, over lack of usable toilets during night duties.

A few times because of assaults on colleagues by patients’ attenders.

Once, as a surgical resident, because one of us was badly bitten by a pack of dogs when he went to collect a bottle of blood from the blood bank in the hospital campus at 1AM.

The underlying issue in most of these protests was “safety at work”. The working environment for medical professionals is unique. Day-to-day interactions with many different strangers – patients, their relatives, third parties, many of them in pain and suffering, many of them disgruntled. Interaction is in close physical proximity, at all times of day and night, often with a single doctor on one side, and several people on the patient’s side. Emotions are high, and so are expectations. Doctors and nurses are vulnerable, and verbal abuse, and even mild physical aggression are usually brushed aside – after all people cannot be expected to be civilized when their kin are suffering. Security at most hospitals is lax or non-existent.

All-in-all, we are used to hostility. Despite us doing our best. After all, that’s all we can do as human beings – our best.

This time too, doctors are on protest. We are not asking for reduction in 36 hour shifts. We are not asking for relief from being available on the phone 24/7. We are not asking for weekend offs – we are used to working Sundays as well. We are not asking for increase in remuneration.

All we ask is to be allowed to serve our patients in peace. In safety.

Doctors’ strikes do not evoke public sympathy. Even though emergencies are always covered – after all, we are essential services. The spotlight quickly turns to the many patients who are inconvenienced and put to hardship because of the strike. Strikes fizzle out in a day or two, and then its back to square one.

But this time, its different. Or is it?