RG Kar medico Death Case: JIPMER Director Urges Resident Doctors to End Strike

Puducherry: After the resident doctors of Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) declared that they would continue their nationwide strike, the administration of the institute today urged them to call off their strike and focus on addressing the needs of the patients in distress. 

Citing that the Supreme Court has also made an appeal for calling off the strike and requested the doctors to perform their foremost duty of caring for the sick and the needy, the director of the institute asked the agitating doctors to return to their work. He stated that the institute is already working on improving their workplace safety and is committed to working further on this in keeping with the recommendations of the committee that has already been set up at their Institute for this purpose.

In a letter addressed to the resident doctors of the institute in this regard, Dr Rakesh Aggarwal, Director of JIPMER said, "As you are aware, the Honb'le Supreme Court of India has taken suo moto congizance of the issue, has ordered several steps including giving instructions to the Government and the various medical institutions, and it continues to be engaged on the matter. The Hon'ble Supreme Court has also made an appeal for calling off of the strike and requested us to perform our foremost duty of caring for the sick and the needy.

Also read- AIIMS cites code of conduct, Doctors refuse to back down from strike

In view of this, as the head of the JIPMER family, I sincerely request you to kindly return to work. At our Institute, we are already working on improving our workplace safety and are committed to working further on this in keeping with the recommendations of the committee that has already been set up at our Institute for this purpose."

Further, the administration added, "Please do remember, we are a profession that is different. As a group, our profession has made an important point by taking the lead in exhibiting our concern about a problem that besets not only the medical profession but all others where women work, and ensuring that the issue has reached the center-stage of national conscience. Going further from here, our cause would be best served if we now resume our regular service to the public while surely continuing to ensure during our non-working hours (which admittedly are short) that the nation continues to make progress on the important issues raised by the agitation."

On August 19, the resident doctors under the Junior Resident Doctors Association (JRDA) of JIMPER declared that they would continue their nationwide strike in solidarity with their colleagues against the brutal incident at RG Kar Hospital until their demands were met. 

Their key demands include timely justice for the victims of this tragic incident and the resignation of officials trying to cover the incident, the committee as proposed by MoHFW with representatives from all stakeholders to draft the Central Protection Act should be formed, immediate measures to enhance the safety of healthcare workers, particularly women, in the workplace and mandatory installation of CCTV cameras in healthcare facilities and to increase other security measures.

"We recognize the impact of this strike on the community and our patients, and it is with a heavy heart that we continue this action. Our primary goal remains to secure changes that will enhance our working environment and improve patient care. In light of recent updates from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and developments related to the RG Kar incident, we continue to update our demands and support," stated the press release.  

Further, it added, "We remain open to dialogue and are willing to work towards a constructive resolution. We hope that you will consider our position and engage in meaningful discussions to address our concerns. Our aim is not to prolong this strike indefinitely but to achieve a fair and equitable solution."

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, and the Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) had issued a warning to the protesting doctors. 

Citing court orders and code of conduct, AIIMS, New Delhi authorities have highlighted that the strike/dharna/demonstration by the doctors contravened the Court orders and therefore warned them to take disciplinary action against the doctors. JIPMER has clarified that resident doctors remaining absent from work for the ongoing strike will not receive any pay and allowance for the period of absence.

Also read- Disciplinary Action, No pay: AIIMS, JIPMER Warn Doctors on strike