NATIONWIDE WITHDRAWAL OF SERVICES
An young post graduate of chest medicine was brutally raped and killed on duty in R GKar Medical College, Kolkata in the early hours of 9th August 2024. This has shocked the medical fraternity and the nation alike. Ever since the Resident doctors are on strike.
Protests as well as candle marches have been held across the country by IMA as well.
The crime situation was handled shabbily by the college authorities and the police investigations stalled after the first day.
On 13th August 2024, the Calcutta High Court asked the state police to hand over the
case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) while expressing discontent with the investigation so far.
They also flagged the possibility of destruction of evidence if the state police continued with their investigation.
On 15th August 2024, the hospital was vandalized by a large crowd which destroyed various sections of the hospital including
the area where the victim was found. The medical students who were on protest were
attacked as well.
Doctors especially women are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the
profession. It is for the 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 concerned authorities to the needs of doctors, nurses and other
healthcare workers.
Subsequent to the brutal crime in R G Kar Medical College Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of the Independence Day, Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern
medicine from 6 am on Saturday 17.08.2024 to 6 am Sunday 18.08.2024 for 24 hours.
All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will
not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. 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.
