Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: Doctors to continue nationwide protest, outpatient services hit

New Delhi: A day after the Calcutta High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the brutal rape-murder of a postgraduate student at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, doctors and medical students across the country confirmed that they would continue their protests until their demands are met and culprits are identified and punished. 

Protesting doctors and medical students also conveyed that their protests will be carried on until their demands of installing CCTV cameras, establishing proper security measures, urgent drafting of a Central Protection Act for Healthcare Professionals and providing compensation to the victim's parents are met.

Supporting the court's order, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has decided to continue its nationwide shutdown of OPD services after having a discussion with the Resident Doctors' Association in solidarity with the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on August 9.

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On X, FAIMA Doctors Association announced, "We had a meeting with all the associated RDAs Pan India. Matter is not solved yet. @AmitShahOffice ji @JPNadda ji our demand is Central protection for HCW. Strike to be continued tomorrow. We are standing with you all, our dear Residents."

"The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), in coordination with Resident Doctor Associations (RDAs) across the nation, after their emergency meeting on 13th August, 11 PM has unanimously resolved to continue the indefinite suspension of elective medical services throughout the country. This decision comes in response to the brutal incident at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, where a doctor on duty was tragically raped and murdered. Our strike is being observed in solidarity with the ongoing protest and to address the alarming safety concerns faced by healthcare professionals. We demand the immediate suspension of the former Principal of RG Kar Medical College and the urgent drafting of a Central Protection Act for Healthcare Professionals. FAIMA stands united in this fight for justice and the safety of all healthcare workers," stated the press release. 

Apart from that, the resident doctors at Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), AIIMS Delhi, AIIMS Patna, AIIMS Bhubaneswar, NIMHANS, PGI CHANDIGARH, JIPMER, SGPGI, VMMC, AIIMS Kalyani, IMS BHU, AIIMS Mangalagiri, AIIMS Rishikesh, ESIC Joka, KGMU Lucknow, Andhra Pradesh JUDA, Telangana JUDA, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS bibinagar, Indira Gandhi Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi, PGIMS Rohtak and many more also decided to continue the ongoing strike until all the demands put forth by the association are fully met and provided in writing.

Meanwhile, the doctors and medical students at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital said that they support the decision but would continue their protests until the culprits are identified and punished, ANI reports. 

Addressing media persons, Dr Lahari Sarkar, Resident Doctor, on behalf of all protestors, said, "We have just received the update about the case being transferred to the CBI. We welcome this decision with all our support. We support this decision. However, just handing over the case doesn't mean justice is served, so we will continue the protests until the appropriate culprits are identified and proper punishment is given."

Further referring to their additional demands, Dr Sarkar said, "Also, there are more demands that are still to be met, such as the installation of CCTV cameras, establishing proper security measures, and providing compensation to the victim's parents. We have also proposed the stepdown of the authorities who were responsible at the time of the incident. We are still not happy with the orders that are currently circulated, so we will continue our protests till our demands are fulfilled."

She further clarified that emergency services at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital will continue; however, OPD services will not function any time soon.

"However, I would like to emphasize that our emergency services are still open, our senior doctors and our authorities are helping with that and running the emergency services, but OPD services are not functional right now," she said.

Speaking on the duration of protests, Sarkar said, "We will have another general meeting to discuss how long our strikes will continue. Till now, none of our demands have been fulfilled, so there is no question of dissolving our protests at the moment."

Meanwhile, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has also decided to continue its nationwide shutdown of OPD services after having a discussion with Resident Doctors' Association in solidarity with the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, on August 9.

On X, FAIMA Doctors Association announced, "We had a meeting with all the associated RDAs Pan India. The matter is not solved yet. @AmitShahOffice ji @JPNadda ji our demand is Central protection for HCW. Strike to be continued tomorrow. We are standing with you all, our dear Residents."

Medical Dialogues yesterday reported that the Calcutta High Court transferred the case for further investigation to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) after there was no significant development in the police investigation of the rape and murder case of RG Kar PG Respiratory Medicine doctor.

Phe half-naked body of the deceased was recovered from the seminar hall of the hospital on Friday morning. A preliminary autopsy report indicated sexual abuse before she was killed. As per the inquest report, there was bleeding from the doctor's eyes and mouth, injury on the face and nails, bleeding from her genitals, and several other injury marks on different parts of her body. After this doctors across the country started a massive protest demanding justice for their colleague's rape and murder.

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