With the Indian Medical Association (IMA) calling for a 12-hour shutdown of all private hospitals to protest the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, 2017, the Union Health Ministry on Monday directed central government health institutions, including Safdarjung hospital, to take necessary measures to ensure that patient health care and emergency run smoothly. "It has come the notice that the Indian Medical Association (IMA) would be on one day strike on January 2, 2018 (from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m). Since, the strike may involve a large number of medical professionals, it is anticipated that there would be inconvenience to the patient care services in the hospitals," said the advisory issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.