The Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has thrown its weight behind the ongoing hunger strike by junior doctors at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protest is a response to the horrific rape and murder of Dr. Abhaya, a young doctor at the government-run hospital, and it has sparked an outcry for better safety and protection for healthcare workers.
In a press release issued on October 8, 2024, MARD expressed its outrage over the lack of justice for Dr. Abhaya and criticized the authorities for failing to implement sufficient security measures for doctors. Members of MARD, in a powerful gesture of solidarity, have now been on hunger strike for more than 65 hours. They stand firmly with the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front and the resident doctors of RG Kar, calling for urgent action to safeguard medical professionals across the country.
"We urge the authorities to act swiftly and decisively to ensure the protection and well-being of doctors across the state and country. The safety of healthcare professionals should be a top priority, and any delay in addressing this issue is not only a disservice to the doctors but also to the patients who rely on their care," MARD said in their statement, as quoted by Edex Live. They emphasized that the safety of healthcare workers should be a national priority and warned that delays in addressing this issue not only endanger the lives of doctors but also put patients at risk.
MARD’s call for solidarity extends beyond Maharashtra. They urged the entire medical community across India to rally together in support of the doctors in West Bengal. The protest, which initially started as a fight for justice for one of their own, has now grown into a larger movement demanding safer working conditions for healthcare professionals everywhere.
The hunger strike in Kolkata continues, as doctors across the country push for long-overdue reforms that would ensure their protection while they serve the public.
