The IMA is calling for a comprehensive review and overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors...
Digital Desk: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services for 24 hours, starting from 6 am on Saturday, August 17. This protest is in response to the brutal rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, an incident that has sent shockwaves through the medical community and the nation.
The IMA's decision to halt services is a clear demonstration of its outrage and demand for action. The association has presented five key demands, aiming to address the immediate and long-term issues that have been highlighted by this tragic event.
What are the 5 demands of IMA?
1. The IMA is calling for a comprehensive review and overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors. This demand stems from the fact that the victim was on a 36-hour duty shift at the time of the incident, a situation that exemplifies the grueling conditions under which many doctors work. The association has emphasized the need for safe spaces where doctors can rest during their shifts, pointing out that the lack of such facilities contributed to the vulnerability of the victim.
2. The IMA is pushing for a central act that would integrate the amendments made in 2023 to the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 into the proposed Hospital Protection Bill of 2019. This would, in the IMA's view, fortify existing legislation in 25 states. Additionally, the association has suggested that an ordinance, similar to the one enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic, be introduced to protect healthcare workers from violence in the workplace.
3. The doctors' body is demanding a meticulous and time-bound investigation into the crime, ensuring that justice is served promptly. The IMA is also calling for those responsible for the vandalism at the RG Kar hospital premises on the night of August 14 to be identified and punished severely.
4. The IMA has proposed that security protocols in hospitals be elevated to a level comparable to that of airports. This includes the declaration of hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security measures such as CCTV cameras and the deployment of security personnel. The association believes that such steps are essential to ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals and patients alike.
5. Lastly, the IMA is demanding appropriate and dignified compensation for the bereaved family, reflecting the severity of the crime and the suffering inflicted.
The IMA's protest has led to a 24-hour withdrawal of services by all modern medicine doctors across India, irrespective of their sector or place of work. While emergency services and casualty units will continue to operate, outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will not be available during this period.
On Friday, thousands of doctors took to the streets across various cities in India, including New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Hyderabad, to protest the heinous crime. These demonstrations saw medical professionals demanding justice and better security measures in hospitals. In New Delhi, protestors gathered near Parliament, holding signs that called for accountability in the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor.
Junior doctors from RG Kar Medical College, including Rumalika Kumar and Riya Bera, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the current state of the investigation. They expressed frustration over the lack of transparency and the slow pace of justice.
Despite the transfer of the investigation from the Kolkata Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Kumar stated that their demands for justice remain unmet even after 48 hours. Bera added that they are calling for the immediate arrest of all culprits, backed by proper evidence, and have demanded an official press release from the CBI, a written apology, and the resignation of higher authorities, including the former principal.
Meanwhile, the Kolkata Police reported the arrest of 25 individuals in connection with the vandalism that occurred at the RG Kar Hospital campus on August 14. The mob caused significant damage to the protest site, vehicles, and public property.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Left and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of collaborating to create unrest in the state. In response, the BJP Mahila Morcha, led by its national president Vanathi Srinivasan, organized a silent candlelight march outside the medical college, demanding justice for the victim.
The tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College has highlighted the urgent need for reforms in the working conditions of doctors and the security protocols in hospitals. As the IMA's nationwide protest continues, the focus remains on ensuring that such an atrocity is never repeated and that justice is delivered swiftly.
Leave A Comment