Kolkata doctor murder: Docs nationwide to withdraw services for 24 hours on August 17
Kolkata doctor murder: Doctors across India will observe a 24-hour withdrawal of services starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17, to 6 am Sunday, August 18, as announced by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Thursday. The protest comes in the wake of the horrific sexual and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata.
The IMA, representing modern medicine practitioners, stated in their official communication that all routine outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries would be suspended during this period. However, essential services will continue to be operational. “All essential services will be maintained, and emergency departments will be staffed. Routine OPDs will remain closed, and no elective surgeries will be conducted during these 24 hours,” the IMA clarified in their statement, seeking public support in this critical protest.
The incident has sparked outrage nationwide, particularly within the medical community. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has also joined the protest, organising a demonstration at Azad Maidan in Mumbai on August 16. “In solidarity with our colleagues and in protest against these heinous acts, we (BMC MARD, IMA, IMA JDN, ASMI) are holding a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on August 16, 2024, at 1 pm. We urge all medical professionals, including doctors, medical students, resident doctors, senior doctors, and other associations, to stand with us against this grave injustice,” MARD stated in a press release.
Support for the protests has also extended to the Bengali film and television industry, with several prominent figures joining the demonstrations at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The tragedy that has galvanised these protests occurred on August 9 when a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly sexually assaulted and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The brutal incident has ignited widespread protests, leading to chaos on the hospital campus. On Wednesday, a mob vandalised the protest grounds and hospital premises, prompting security forces to intervene and disperse the crowd.