Kolkata rape-murder: OPD services hit by nationwide doctors' protest
Doctors nationwide have refused to return to work, except for emergency cases, in protest against the rape and murder of a 31-year-old physician at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. To recall, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) had announced the nationwide strike listing five demands. The association called it "the greatest travesty in the history of the resident doctor community." The ongoing "indefinite" strike has disrupted medical services across the country. Here are more details.
Why does this story matter?
The body of a post-graduate trainee doctor was found in a seminar hall at the hospital on Friday morning. Her colleagues reported that she had gone there to rest after her meal. The rape and murder occurred between 3:00 am and 6:00 am. The suspect, a civic volunteer who frequently visited the hospital but had no professional connection to it, was arrested the following day. The incident has sparked nationwide outrage.
Doctors in Mumbai, Delhi, Lucknow join protest
At King George's Medical University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, protesting doctors assembled this morning and marched to the outpatient department, halting work there. Patients and their families were seen banging on the closed doors of the OPD, urging for medical attention. In Mumbai, several major hospitals, including JJ Hospital, Sion Hospital, Nair Hospital, and King Edward Memorial Hospital, have seen their doctors join the protest.
IMA writes to Health Minister; demands central law
AIIMS Delhi has seen an 80% reduction in daily surgeries and a 35% drop in admissions since doctors began their indefinite strike over the Kolkata incident, PTI reported. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged Health Minister JP Nadda to implement a central law to prevent violence against doctors and designate hospitals as safe zones. The IMA highlighted that while 25 states have laws against such attacks, their ineffectiveness is largely due to the absence of a national law.
FORDA's five demands
Notably, while announcing the strike the FORDA had made five demands. They include, immediate acceptance and action on the requests from the Kolkata college residents, and assurance against police brutality and manhandling of protesting doctors. They also call for swift justice and compensation for the deceased's family, release and enforcement of a security protocol for healthcare workers, and the formation of an expert committee with medical community representatives to expedite the ratification of the Central Healthcare Protection Act.
Principal of medical college resigns
In response to the public outcry over the incident, the principal of the medical college, Dr Sandip Ghosh, resigned on Monday. He said he "cannot take the humiliation" on social media and that "political statements are being made in his name." Separately, the accused was sent to a 14-day police custody under the charges of Sections 64 (rape) and 103 (murder) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Additionally, the Kolkata Police have formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the crime.
