Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder: IMA declares nationwide strike today; emergencies function
New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour withdrawal of services by all the modern medicine doctors of the country irrespective of the sector and place of work in response to nationwide outrage over the rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College.
Essential Services Maintained Amid Strike
Emergencies and casualties will function. No OPDs. No elective surgeries. The withdrawal commenced at 6 am on Saturday and will end at 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Delhi's Medical Institutions Join Protest
Resident Doctors' Association UCMS (University College of Medical Sciences) and GTBH (Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital) in Delhi will continue their strike today. They will have a General body meeting at 9.30 am. As part of the strike, OPD (Outpatient Department), elective services, laboratory and lab services will be shut down.
Chennai Doctors Organise Boycott
Resident Doctors Associations of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Madras Medical College also organised a boycott protest in Chennai against the incident of rape and murder of a woman doctor in Kolkata.
Thiruvananthapuram Hospital Joins Nationwide Strike
The Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital also announced a nationwide strike over RG Kar Medical College rape and murder.
IMA Statement on Service Withdrawal
In its official statement, IMA stated that routine OPDs and elective surgeries will not take place during those 24 hours; however, other essential services will be maintained.
Incident Sparks Nationwide Protests
On August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, which led to nationwide strikes and protests by the medical fraternity. The incident triggered massive protests.
Violence Erupts at Protest Ground
On Wednesday, the protest ground and the hospital campus at RG Kar were vandalised by a mob, forcing the security personnel to disperse the crowd.
(With ANI inputs)
