IMA announces 24-hour closure of non-emergency services from 6 am on Aug 17 amid Kolkata hospital vandalism

'All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted', the statement said.

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association on Thursday announced withdrawal of services for 24 hours starting 6 am on Aug 17 as a part of the ongoing protests by doctors seeking justice for the Kolkata victim even as a key association of junior doctors resumed the strike with a “renewed resolve” after admitting that their earlier decision to call it off caused “disappointment and distress” within the community.

“The IMA declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday (Aug 17) to 6 am Sunday (Aug 18). All essential services will be maintained and casualties will be manned,” the medical association said.

“Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service. The IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors,” India’s largest body of doctors said in a statement.

The IMA’s call for a day-long strike came on a day when the Federation of Resident Doctors Association decided to rejoin the protests in the wake of widespread criticism of its earlier decision to withdraw.

“We acknowledge that our earlier decision to call off the strike, made in good faith based on assurance from the (health) ministry, has caused distress and disappointment within our community. We accept responsibility for this and understand the widespread discontent it has caused,” the FORDA said in a statement.

The reversal comes two days after representatives of FORDA met the Union Health Minister J P Nadda and announced calling off the strike, much to the consternation of resident doctors across the country.

Doctors from the Federation of All India Medical Association said the indefinite suspension of elective medical services across the country would continue. They carried out a candlelight protest outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, here.

The FAIMA has also given a call for a protest march from Lady Hardinge Medical College to Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Aug 17.

While the nationwide protests by junior doctors impacted the OPD, elective surgeries and diagnostic services in most of the government hospitals, they insisted that emergency services were functioning normally everywhere.

The agitating doctors received support from a section of senior physicians, who are in agreement of a central law to protect healthcare workers from violence apart from seeking justice for the woman doctor from Kolkata who was brutally raped and murdered inside the government run RG Kar medical college and hospital.

Resident doctors from other states also said they would continue with the strike till their demands were met.

On last night’s violence at RG Kar hospital, the doctors said the episode represented a dark chapter in the profession. “We strongly condemn the Union Ministry and State government for their failure to honour their commitments and ensure the safety of healthcare professionals during the crisis,” the FORDA said in a statement.