The RDA of RML Hospital also announced the end of their strike through an official statement, acknowledging the Supreme Court's role...
Digital Desk: Doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), Indira Gandhi Hospital (IGH), and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) have ended their 11-day strike, which began on August 12 in response to the brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. The strike was called off on Thursday after the Supreme Court assured the doctors that no adverse action would be taken against them for returning to duty.
The strike, which lasted for nearly two weeks, saw emergency services remaining operational, but routine outpatient department (OPD) services were suspended, causing significant disruption to patient care. The protest was ignited by the horrifying assault on the junior doctor, whose body was discovered with severe injuries in the seminar hall of a state-run hospital's chest department in Kolkata on August 9. Following the incident, Kolkata Police arrested a civic volunteer in connection with the case.
The decision to end the strike came after the Supreme Court's intervention, which included an appeal to the doctors and assurances that their concerns would be addressed. The AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) released a statement confirming their decision to resume duties, citing the Supreme Court's involvement as a key factor in their decision.
"We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors. We commend the Court's action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority," the statement read.
Dr Indra Shekhar Prasad, the president of the RDA at AIIMS Delhi, expressed the challenges faced by the medical community in deciding to go on strike. He emphasized that the strike was a difficult decision, but necessary in light of the severe safety and security lapses exposed by the RG Kar incident.
"We are doctors. We provide public service and we want to continue our main service. We never want to go on a strike. But the incident at RG Kar was so gruesome and it exposed the safety and security lapses in our health system. So, we had to go on a strike. This was not easy for us. The strike was more difficult for us than duty. However, the Supreme Court gave direction and formed a task force. We appreciate this and hope that there will be justice in the RG Kar incident. We will resume our duties at the earliest," Dr Prasad stated.
Similarly, the RDA of RML Hospital also announced the end of their strike through an official statement, acknowledging the Supreme Court's role in addressing their demands and concerns.
"In view of the developments concerning our demands, and our concerns being addressed by the Supreme Court, we hereby declare the strike to be withheld. We hereby have decided to resume all our duties. The recent mishappening at RG Kar Medical College highlighted the sorry state in which residents are working in our country. We have requested residents to resume services from 8 AM onwards, 23rd August," the statement read.
Both associations underscored the critical safety issues that the RG Kar incident brought to light and expressed hope that the Supreme Court's intervention would lead to lasting improvements in the security and working conditions for doctors. By calling off the strike, the doctors reaffirmed their commitment to patient care, while also stressing the importance of adhering to the Supreme Court's directives to ensure justice and enhanced safety within the medical community.
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