Medical Bandh: OPDs, elective surgeries shut as Nationwide doctors go on strike over Kolkata doctor murder case

New Delhi: Continuing its protest against the brutal rape and murder of a female postgraduate medico at the R G Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, doctors across the nation have started a 24-hour shutdown of non-emergency services today.  

The nationwide medical bandh began at 6 am today after the Indian Medical Association (IMA) declared a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors for 24 hours from 6:00 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6:00 am on Sunday, August 18.

During the strike, routine outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will remain suspended, however, other essential services will be maintained and casualty departments at hospitals will be manned. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service, the doctors' body said.

Also read- PG medico Rape-Murder Case: IMA announces 24-hour nationwide strike on August 17

The IMA called for a nationwide strike by doctors of modern medicine after the brutal rape and murder in R G Kar Medical College Kolkata and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day.  

Following this, doctors across Assam on Saturday joined the nationwide protest demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and a central law to ensure the safety of medical professionals. Out-patient and non-essential services came to a near halt in all hospitals as doctors assembled on the premises, wearing black badges and displaying placards to press for their demands.

"We want justice for the victim, the family, that is our first demand. We also want to emphasise the need for awareness and education in the society so that such crimes are not repeated," a resident doctor at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) here said.

Another female junior doctor told ANI, "We don't have fixed duty hours. We are called from our hostel at 1 am in the night. How can we come and perform our duties when we lack basic security?"

"Justice delayed is justice denied, and we want swift, exemplary punishment," she demanded.

Doctors at Dibrugarh's Assam Medical College and Hospital (AMCH) maintained that the protest was also a manifestation of the lack of security faced by people from all walks of life.

"This nationwide protest also symbolises how we feel insecure in every sphere," a protesting doctor said.

"It is a shameful matter that only one culprit has been arrested for the crime. Hospital authorities, those in government could be involved, at least in shielding the culprits. We demand all be arrested immediately," he added.

Echoing similar sentiments, protesting doctors at Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital in Kokrajhar said they are hopeful that the CBI, which has taken over the investigation, will ensure speedy delivery of justice. They also reiterated the demand for a central act to ensure security for all on-duty medical professionals.

A protesting doctor at Jorhat Medical College and Hospital demanded for installation of CCTV cameras to ensure the safety of on-duty doctors and other staff. Doctors in Nagaon and Golaghat, among other places, also joined the nationwide protest.

Placards with slogans like 'No safety, no duty', 'No Justice, no peace', 'Stop shielding rapists', 'Doctor life matters', 'Stop rape' and 'We want justice' were raised at different protest sites.

Similarly, Doctors from Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) will march to the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI) and will then jointly march to the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) state headquarters on Chamarajpet around 10.30 am. 

Doctors and students from Stanley Medical College in Chennai boycotted outpatient work for an hour between 7:30 am and 8:30 am. During this time, students, doctors, and IMA representatives held a protest and marched within the campus until 10:30 am. 

Around 4000 resident doctors in Gujarat have joined the strike today called by IMA in protest against the brutal incident at RG Kar hospital suspending OPD services and continuing emergency services at the hospitals across the state.

Junior doctors and students of SMS Medical College and Hospital in Rajasthan began their protest today morning against the rape-murder incident at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Resident doctors in Panaji, Goa have also started their protest today. As per the NDTV news report, IMA Goa president Dr Sandesh Chodankar said, "All their members have joined the protest from 6 am on Saturday and it will continue for 24 hours. Emergency services in private hospitals will remain unaffected as doctors attached to emergency and casualty units have not joined the agitation."

The Indian Dental Association Goa, Goa pvt Dentist Association, Goa Ayurvedic Association, Goa Nursing Association, Indian Pharmaceutical Association Goa, Goa Chemist and Druggist Association, and Goa Medical Representative Association also joined the protest. Goa Association of Resident Doctors, Goa Medical College Students Council and Medical Students Network have supported the IMA Goa State initiative.

Junior doctors and medical students at Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad protested on Friday. In Delhi, junior doctors and medical students at RML Hospital staged a protest.

Resident doctors from medical colleges and hospitals across Maharashtra joined today's strike. Previously Dr Shivaji Munde, president of the BJMC unit of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors told Indian Express, "Doctors’ associations will take out another rally on Saturday. Students from various medical colleges in Pimpri Chinchwad, Sinhagad College, Y C M hospital, Dr D Y Patil Medical College and others along with IMA doctors will participate in the protest rally."

This strike called by the IMA is also supported by specialist associations like the Indian Association of Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeons (IACTS), the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, the Tele Opthalmology Society of India and the Indian Radiologist and Imaging Association. Meanwhile, Associations like FAIMA, Central MARD, BMC MARD and many more have also joined the strike announced by IMA on August 17 in solidarity with their colleagues in West Bengal. 

Also Read: Kolkata Doctor rape-murder case: CBI visits RG Kar Hospital for digital blueprint