Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: AIIMS doctors call off strike after Supreme Court appeal
New Delhi: The resident doctors at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, on Thursday called off their 11-day strike after the Supreme Court asked healthcare workers to resume their duties and asked the Centre to provide security to all health professionals across the country.
In a statement, the Resident Doctors Association made the announcement and said, "In the interest of the nation and in the spirit of public service, the RDA, AIIMS, New Delhi, has decided to call off 11-day strike. This decision comes in response to the appeal and direction of the Supreme Court. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Supreme Court for taking cognizance of the RG Kar Medical College incident and addressing the broader issue of safety and security for healthcare workers across the country", news agency ANI reported.
Earlier, the Supreme Court, while commencing its hearing on the Kolkata doctor rape-murder case, said that health professionals must return to work and that once they resume their duties, the court will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse action against them.
Also Read:Kolkata doctor death case: AIIMS Doctors demand Central Protection Act, Strike continues
According to an ANI report, the court said, "Let the health professionals return to work and once they return to duties, the court will prevail upon authorities to not take adverse action. How would the public health infrastructure function if doctors did not return to work".
On Thursday, the Supreme Court continued its hearings into the alleged rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Chief Justice of India (CJ) DY Chandrachud shared a personal experience of staying overnight in a public hospital, underscoring the challenges faced by healthcare workers.
Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that while considering the case of the horrific incident of rape and murder of a PG medical doctor at Kolkata-based RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the Supreme Court has set up a National Task Force to give recommendations on the modalities to be followed across India to ensure safety of senior and junior doctors employed across the medical colleges/hospitals in the country.
The development comes days after the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata sparked nationwide protests, the apex court suo motu took up the case and directed the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months.
The top court also asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a status report on the status of the investigation in the rape case. Also, the court asked the West Bengal government to file a status report on the mob attack incident that took place at the RG Kar hospital on August 15.
