In a significant move, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a 24-hour nationwide strike, withdrawing non-emergency services from 6 am on August 17 to 6 am on August 18, 2024. This decision comes in response to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, along with the vandalism that occurred at the facility.
The IMA’s statement, issued late on Thursday night, condemned the brutal crime and the subsequent violence against protesting students at the hospital. “Following the heinous crime at R G Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the assault on protesting students on the eve of Independence Day, we declare a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine,” the statement said.
During the strike, essential services, including casualty wards, will continue to operate to ensure that urgent medical care remains available. The IMA’s decision underscores the gravity of the situation and reflects widespread outrage within the medical community over the violent incident and the handling of the protest.
The strike aims to draw attention to the safety and security of medical professionals and students, and to demand justice for the victim and accountability for those responsible for the attack and subsequent vandalism. The medical fraternity is calling for immediate action from authorities to address these issues and to ensure such incidents do not recur.
The protest is expected to impact non-emergency medical services across the country, with doctors from various institutions participating in the strike to show solidarity with their colleagues in Kolkata and to voice their concerns about the deteriorating safety conditions for healthcare workers.
