National Desk, 16th August: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors in response to recent violent incidents against medical professionals. The strike is set to begin at 6 am on Saturday, August 17, and will conclude at 6 am on Sunday, August 18.
The IMA’s decision follows a tragic event at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata, where a young postgraduate resident in chest medicine was allegedly assaulted and killed while on duty. In a press release, the IMA stated, “A young postgraduate of chest medicine was brutally raped and killed on duty in R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata in the early hours of August 9, 2024.”
Tensions escalated when protesting medical students were reportedly attacked on the eve of Independence Day, further highlighting the dangers faced by healthcare workers, particularly women, in medical settings.
Dr. RV Asokan, National President of IMA, expressed deep concern over the vulnerability of doctors to violence. “Doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. It is for the authorities to ensure the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses,” he emphasized.
During the protest, the IMA has assured that essential services will be maintained. “Casualties will be manned, but routine OPDs will not function, and elective surgeries will not be conducted,” clarified the IMA notification.
The association is calling for public support, stating that the protest “requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors.”