The IMA on Friday put forth five demands, including a thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of resident doctors and a central law to check violence against healthcare professionals at workplaces.
The IMA has declared a nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services for 24 hours beginning from August 17 6 am to protest against the rape and murder of a resident doctor at a hospital in Kolkata.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Friday issued notices to the state government and others seeking their reply in 24 hours on the strike called by doctors on August 17 to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at a Kolkata hospital and vandalization of the health facility. A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Vinay Saraf issued notices to the dean of Bhopal-based Gandhi Medical College (GMC), the Junior Doctors Association and others while hearing a petition filed by Anshul Tiwari, a resident of Narsinghpur district, challenging the strike.
The site where the 31-year-old doctor was allegedly raped and murdered in a Kolkata hospital underwent sudden renovations, potentially leading to tampering with evidence, the NCW has alleged, noting that the crime scene should have been sealed immediately by the police.
The NCW has revealed lapses in security, infrastructure, and the investigation surrounding the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata.
The NCW’s inquiry revealed that no security guards were present during the incident, leaving on-call interns, doctors, and nurses without sufficient protection during night shifts.
With member doctors of the Indian Medical Association going on strike on Saturday against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Karnataka government on Friday suspended the leaves of the medical officers and surgeons of government hospitals.
In a circular, the Health and Family Welfare Department said all the district health and family welfare officers and district surgeons along with the administrative officers of all the hospitals should ensure that emergency services are not affected, causing trouble for people.
Meanwhile, the IMA Karnataka unit president Srinivasa S told PTI that its branches across Karnataka will remain shut and there will be no OPD services anywhere.
"It is not just about the medical fraternity of the doctors and nurses. This is a nationwide issue. It is a security and a societal issue. It is a matter of concern for everyone... The general public is also agitated..."
Healthcare services took a hit across West Bengal on Saturday as doctors joined their junior colleagues in the cease work, demanding justice for the rape and murder at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Services at the outpatient departments of both government and private hospitals were affected as doctors also protested the vandalism at the RG Kar MCH on August 14.
Healthcare services were affected in Jharkhand on Saturday as doctors joined the 24-hour strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest the rape and murder of a colleague at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
IMA's state secretary doctor Pradeep Kumar Singh said health services would remain till 6 am on Sunday.
Elective medical services at Delhi hospitals remain suspended for the sixth consecutive day as doctors in the national capital continue their protest, demanding justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.
The Indian Medical Association's 24-hour nationwide strike also began at 6 am on Saturday.
Major hospital resident doctors' association (RDA) members will gather again in the evening to protest after demonstrations in various parts of the city on Friday.
Doctors practising independently and in various private hospitals in Goa struck work from 6 am on Saturday to join the nationwide protest against the rape and murder of their colleague in Kolkata.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has appealed to all its members across the country to take part in its strike which will continue till 6 am on Sunday.
IMA Goa president Dr Sandesh Chodankar said all their members have joined the protest from 6 am on Saturday and it will continue for 24 hours.
Doctors across Assam on Saturday joined the nationwide protest against the rape and murder of a doctor in a Kolkata hospital, demanding exemplary punishment for the culprits and a central law to ensure safety of medical professionals.
Out-patient and non-essential services came to a near halt in all hospitals as doctors assembled on the premises, wearing black badges and displaying placards to press for their demands.
IN PICS | Medics in Bengaluru take to the streets to protest against the rape and murder of Kolkata doctor.
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Our junior and resident doctors carried out a maha-rally yesterday. 4000-5000 doctors joined it... Everyone is agitated and they are demanding safety. They are demanding CPA, Central Protection Act... We met Union Minister J P Nadda and we will keep meeting other authorities. They are positive but there is nothing concrete from them yet... We are hopeful that they will bring the law that we are demanding..."
"What is happening in 'Nir'Mamata's terror regime is that they have destroyed democracy and murdered justice. As we speak today, there is a nationwide strike and national outrage... Yesterday, High Court said there is a failure of state machinery after ordering the CBI probe...When CBI probe was underway, a mob attacked the hospitals, broke CCTVs, hurt patients right in front of police,"
"...Everyone in this country is outraged and all are demanding only one thing that there should be justice. But instead of giving justice, the agenda of the Trinamool Congress government has become that don't give justice, don't save the daughter, only save the rapist. TMC doesn't mean Trinamool Congress, it is 'Taliban Mujhe Chahiye'..."
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
Credit: DH Photo/ S K Dinesh
In view of the concerns expressed by FORDA, IMA and Resident Doctors’ Associations of Governmental Medical Colleges & Hospitals of Delhi, the Ministry assured them of constituting a Committee to suggest all such possible measures for ensuring the safety of healthcare professionals. Representatives of all stakeholders including the State Governments will be invited to share their suggestions with the Committee. The Ministry requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest and in view of the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
"... I stand in solidarity with my doctor community and friends... The barbarism that happened in Bengal was being covered up by the CM herself... Why have 40-50 doctors been transferred in a hurry? What is the CM trying to hide?... After holding the portfolio of Chief Minister, Health Minister, and also Home Minister, she dared to come out holding placards and holding a protest. Who is she seeking justice and protection from?... Who did Sandip Ghosh (former Principal of RG Kar) work for?... The victim's parents were told she had committed suicide... Police are looking out for people sending notices and threatening people for posting about the case on social media... I thank the lawyers representing the case at the Calcutta High Court. Pertinent questions have been taken up by those lawyers. I have seen the gesture of the Justice. They were all frustrated and devastated and they pulled up the WB government. They have upheld the justice of the country..."
A group of Indian doctors and medical students in the UK have issued an open letter this weekend demanding justice for the postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The letter condemns the "brutal rape and murder of an on-duty female doctor” at the hospital and the “inaction” of the West Bengal government in its response to the incident last week. (PTI)
"Mamata Banerjee is protesting to divert people's attention from this issue. She herself is a woman. She should have taken strict action against the culprits while discharging her responsibility as the head of the state. She should resign because she has failed to handle the situation," she said.
Doctors running private clinics and nursing homes associated with the Indian Medical Association of Uttar Pradesh on Saturday abandoned work in a protest against the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. (PTI)
"In such a situation, it is important to worry about how the culprits will get strict punishment and the victim's family justice. Therefore, in this case, everyone will have to rise above party politics and come forward to take strict action against the real culprits by leaving aside the allegations and counter-allegations, etc. The victim's family has said they will not take compensation and want justice, everyone needs to be serious about their pain and the demand for justice for the incident. The agitation by doctors and medical students over this incident is justified and deserves support, but it would be appropriate if attention is paid to the treatment of poor patients during this time. Also, the government should pay special attention to the safety and respect of hospitals and doctors," Mayawati said on X.
The Durand Cup derby between Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, scheduled at the Salt Lake Stadium here on Sunday, has been called off because of the prevailing unrest in the city.
The decision was taken following a meeting between the Kolkata Police officials and organisers of the tournament. (PTI)
"The chief minister of that state (West Bengal) should be ashamed that such an incident happened, and those who were protesting against it were attacked for the protest," Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, demanding justice for doctors.
"Mamataji has become 'nirmam' (ruthless) in West Bengal. There is jungle raj. The situation should change. The victim should get justice, and the accused should be punished," he said.
Senior Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh on Saturday accused the BJP and the Left of indulging in dirty politics over the rape and murder of a woman doctor in a state-run hospital here.
Ghosh said, "We are also protesting against the alleged rape and murder of the doctor. We also want the perpetrator or perpetrators of the heinous crime to be hanged. The BJP and the Left are indulging in dirty politics against the TMC and the state administration."
The Madhya Pradesh High Court here on Saturday directed protesting doctors in the state to call off their strike immediately, and return to work. "In view of the assurance given on behalf of the state government, we urge the Junior Doctors Association, Madhya Pradesh to also withdraw their call for strike and resume duties," said a division bench of acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva and Justice Raj Mohan.
Eknath Shinde had a telephonic discussion with J P Nadda in the wake of the ongoing agitation by doctors across the nation. The discussion was on issues like making stringent laws at central level for the security of the doctors. The chief minister requested the Union minister to consider it positively.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury on Saturday said the vandalism at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was an attempt to "cover up the truth", and called for ensuring justice to the woman trainee doctor.
Jaipur: Members of the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors 'JARD' protest march demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, at Amar Jawan Jyoti, in Jaipur, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
Doctors march along a street during a protest condemning the rape and murder of a trainee medic at a government-run hospital, in Kolkata, India, August 17, 2024.
Bengaluru: Doctors and medical students during a candlelight protest demanding justice for the trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, at Freedom Park, in Bengaluru, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
Doctors stage a candlelight protest amid the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding justice for the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Prayagraj.
Doctors hold posters and shout slogans during a protest march demanding justice following the rape and murder of a trainee medic at a hospital in Kolkata, in New Delhi, India, August 17, 2024.
Doctors of Moti Lal Nehru Medical College stage a protest amid the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding justice for the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Prayagraj, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
Kolkata: A protestor pastes a poster above the gate of the closed emergency department of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital amid the 24-hours nation wide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding justice for the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at the hospital, in Kolkata, Saturday, Aug 17, 2024.
Junior doctors participate in a protest in Kolkata.
Amritsar: A protestor holds a placard amid the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding justice for the woman doctor who was raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Amritsar, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
Bengaluru: Residents doctors hold a placard during a protest amid the 24-hour nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) demanding justice for the woman doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Bengaluru, Saturday, Aug. 17, 2024.
"I don't want to be the next victim", read placards carried by several women medics who were part of a march here on Saturday to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last week.
Hundreds of medics, including doctors and resident doctors, wearing stethoscopes over their white aprons, started their march from the Lady Hardinge Medical College on the sixth day of their agitation over the incident and to press for their demands such as a central law to check violence against healthcare personnel.
On reaching Connaught Place, they held an around 25-minute sit-in, before police removed barricades and allowed them to proceed to the Jantar Mantar for the next phase of their demonstration -- a candle light march. (PTI)'Don't want to be next victim': Delhi medics march against peer's rape, murder in Kolkata