Doctors affiliated with the Indian Medical Association (IMA) are on strike from 6 AM on Saturday to 6 AM on Sunday in protest of the brutal murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. Dr. Pawan Bansal, President of IMA Chandigarh, stated that the entire nation is shocked by the incident.
The doctors, deeply hurt by the heinous crime committed against a junior doctor in Kolkata, are protesting by abstaining from all medical duties. On Saturday, thousands of doctors held a massive protest march from Gate 1 of PGI, raising their voices against the atrocity.
The IMA is demanding changes in the working and living conditions of resident doctors, highlighting issues like 36-hour duty shifts and the lack of safe resting places. The victim in Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital was also working a 36-hour shift when the incident occurred.
The IMA has called for a central law incorporating amendments made in 2023 to the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897, believing this will strengthen existing laws in 25 states. The association also demands a thorough and professional investigation into the crime within a stipulated timeframe, ensuring justice is served. Additionally, they seek strict punishment for those involved in the vandalism at the RG Kar Hospital on the night of August 14.
The IMA stated, "Security protocols in all hospitals should be no less stringent than those at airports. Declaring hospitals as secure zones with mandatory security rights is the first step. CCTV cameras, deployment of security personnel, and adherence to protocols should be implemented."
Furthermore, the association demands that the victim's family be given appropriate and dignified compensation in line with the cruelty they endured.