The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide strike, withdrawing non-emergency medical services for 24 hours from August 17, 6 am, in protest against the horrific murder-rape of a female postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
This decision comes after the brutal crime and subsequent violent clashes involving protesting students on the eve of Independence Day.
In a statement released late on August 16, the IMA expressed outrage over the incident, highlighting the vulnerability of doctors, particularly women, to violence within their professional environments. The association underscored the urgent need for authorities to enhance security for medical personnel in hospitals and campuses. "Doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. It is for authorities to provide for the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses. Both physical assaults and crimes are a result of indifference and insensitivity of the authorities concerned to the needs of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers," the statement read, as quoted by Edex Live.
The IMA condemned the vandalism and chaos during the student protests, criticizing the breakdown of law and order. They voiced concerns about the potential loss of crucial evidence due to the recent violence. The association’s statement emphasized that both physical assaults and crimes against healthcare workers result from a broader issue of indifference and insensitivity by authorities.
Casualty wards and essential medical services will remain operational during the strike. The IMA’s drastic measure underscores their demand for immediate action to safeguard medical professionals and uphold law and order in healthcare settings.