National Desk, 13th August: In a decisive move, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has announced a nationwide shutdown of Outpatient Department (OPD) services starting August 13. This comes in response to the tragic incident on August 9, where a post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered.
The assault, which reportedly took place in the early hours, has led to the arrest of a civic volunteer identified as Sanjoy Roy. The shocking nature of the crime has sent ripples of outrage throughout the medical community, prompting FAIMA to lead a protest in solidarity with the victim and to demand justice.
In a statement released on social media, FAIMA called on doctors across the country to join the protest, declaring, “We stand with protesting doctors all over India! We call on doctors nationwide to join this protest from tomorrow onwards! We want justice!”
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also responded strongly, calling for an impartial and thorough investigation into the case. The IMA has written to Union Minister JP Nadda, demanding a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that led to the crime. The association has also urged the West Bengal government to take swift and decisive action to ensure that those responsible are held accountable.
Additionally, the IMA has emphasized the importance of implementing measures to enhance the safety of doctors, particularly women, in their workplaces, to prevent such tragedies in the future.
As the nationwide OPD shutdown begins, the medical community’s call for justice and improved safety measures is expected to resonate across the country, highlighting the urgent need for action to protect healthcare professionals.