The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine for 24 hours on August 17. In a press release issued on August 15, the IMA mentioned that the withdrawal has been made following the brutal crime in R G Kar Medical College Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of the Independence Day.
The withdrawal of service will begin from 6 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6 am, Sunday August 18 for 24 hours.
“A young post graduate of chest medicine was brutally raped and killed on duty in R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata in the early hours of 9th August 2024. This has shocked the medical fraternity and the nation alike. Ever since the Resident doctors are on strike. Protests as well as candle marches have been held across the country by IMA as well. The crime situation was handled shabbily by the college authorities and the police investigations stalled after the first day,” state the IMA in a press release.
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On August 13, the Calcutta High Court asked the state police to hand over the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while expressing discontent with the investigation so far. “They also flagged the possibility of destruction of evidence if the state police continued with their investigation. On 15th August 2024, the hospital was vandalized by a large crowd which destroyed various sections of the hospital including the area where the victim was found. The medical students who were on protest were attacked as well,” the IMA mentioned.
With doctors especially women more vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession, the IMA raised the need for authorities to provide safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses. “Both physical assaults and crimes are a result of indifference and insensitivity of the concerned authorities to the needs of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers,” stated the press release.
The IMA informed that all essential services will be maintained and casualties will be manned.
“Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors,” informed the IMA.
