GUWAHATI: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Friday called for a nationwide withdrawal of doctors’ services for twenty-four hours on August 17.
This decision comes in response to the horrific rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as well as the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting doctors on the eve of Independence Day.
According to the statement released by the medical body, services provided by doctors of modern medicine will be unavailable from “6 am on August 17 to 6 am on August 18,” with the exception of essential services.
“All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted,” the release stated.
The IMA release further stated, “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.”
Meanwhile, aligning with the nationwide stir led by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) and other resident doctors’ organizations, the Junior Doctors’ Association of Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) has also announced a suspension of all non-emergency services starting Friday following the rape incident.
The junior doctors have demanded a swift investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and immediate arrests of those involved in the attacks on RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
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The Association has also appealed for a written commitment from the central government to implement the Central Protection Act (CPA) for healthcare professionals, including the formation of an authentic body with national representation to ensure their safety.
A post-graduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in the seminal hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. The Kolkata rape case has brought medical services to a standstill as students and doctors continue to demand justice for the resident PG doctor.
A civic volunteer was arrested the day after the crime.
