Kolkata Rape-Murder Case: Doctors across India go on 24-hour strike; Pakistan, Bangladesh extend support

NEW DELHI: Doctors and health service providers in Delhi, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Jharkhand, Mizoram, Nagaland, among other states staged protests against the alleged rape and murder of Kolkata doctor as the Indian Medical Association (IMA) observed a 24-hour nationwide strike from 6 am today. The medical professionals are demanding a central law to protect doctors, and declaration of hospitals as safe zones with security entitlements among other demands.

Doctors from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal extended their support by holding protests. Earlier today, the union health ministry assured the constitution of a panel to suggest safety measures for the healthcare professionals. The protests across the country have entered the sixth day amid arrests following vandalism at the college, and CBI probe into the death of a postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Take a look at the situation in some of the states across India.

Maharashtra

Private medical practitioners and government resident doctors joined the protests hitting healthcare services such as outpatient departments, planned surgeries, and lab procedures. The Central-Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has demanded an impartial and transparent investigation into the incident, speedy formation of an expert committee for implementation of the Central Healthcare Protection Act, improved security measures including fully functional CCTVs and well-equipped guards, quality hostels, and proper on-call rooms for resident doctors.

West Bengal

Senior leaders of the Left Front and Congress took out a rally in Kolkata demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Kolkata Police commissioner. Rights activists led a procession of women and LGBT+ community to the college where the incident happened.

Delhi

In the national capital, major private hospitals shut down their OPDs, elective surgeries and IPD services. Resident doctors in the capital have been on an indefinite strike since Monday. As the strike entered its sixth day on Saturday, private hospitals also joined the protest alongside government hospitals. Hospitals like Sir Ganga Ram, Fortis and Apollo have halted their OPD, elective surgeries and IPD services.

Gurgaon

Private hospital doctors along with the members of the Lions' Club and other bodies, gathered at John Hall in the morning from where they took to the street, demanding justice for the female resident doctor. IMA's District President Dr Ajay Sharma said that the medics will be on strike till 6 pm tomorrow and only emergency services will be operational.

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Assam

Assam doctors assembled on the hospital premises, wearing black badges and displaying placards to press for their demands. Doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital, Rupnath Brahma Civil Hospital, Jorhat Medical College and Hospital, a private nursing institute and those in Nagaon, Dhubri, Silchar and Golaghat districts held protests raising slogans such as 'No safety, no duty', 'No Justice, no peace', 'Stop shielding rapists', 'Doctor life matters', 'Stop rape' and 'We want justice'.

Telangana

Over 2,000 doctors across Telangana took part in a protest organized by IMA and junior doctors. Those who participated in the protests were doctors, medical students,and medical staff holding placards reading "No mercy to rapists", "hang the criminals", "stop violence against doctors" among others. The protestors demanded justice to the deceased doctor and implementation of a 'Central Protection Act'.

Mizoram

Services at the OPD and non-essential units have been suspended in all the state-run hospitals, private facilities and church-run medical establishments across Aizawl. Earlier, students of Zoram Medical College (ZMC) staged a candle night vigil and procession.

Chhattisgarh

More than 4,500 government and private doctors in Chhattisgarh went on a 24-hour strike as part of the nationwide protest. Earlier, the members of the Junior Doctors Association, Indian Dental Association, Chhattisgarh Nursing Staff Association, Indian Physiotherapist Association, Pharmacist Association, Medical Representative and students of medical colleges took out a candle march.

Punjab, Haryana

The protest of resident doctors at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Punjab’s Chandigarh entered the sixth day while the medical professionals staged sit-ins at many places in Patiala, Amritsar, Faridkot and Ludhiana. Several members of the IMA, Indian Dental Association, Punjab Civil Medical Association, Nursing Association, and Pharmacist Association also organised a march.

UP, Bihar

Junior doctors from Lucknow's KGMU observed a 'Kala Rakshabandhan' by tying black bands on their hands. The Provincial Medical Service Association (PMS), a body of government hospitals' doctors, continued work, but extended moral support to the striking doctors. In Lucknow, junior doctors of KGMU raised slogans like 'Suno Draupadi Shastra Utha Lo, Ab Govind Na Aayenge'. The strike also impacted several other hospitals.

Besides the AIIMS, IGIMS and PMCH in Patna, health services were hit in the districts like Purnea and Begusarai.

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Rajasthan

The desert state witnessed a boycott of work by all government doctors for two hours, from 8 am to 10 am in support of the strike of resident doctors. In the Chittorgarh district, medical services were completely shut.

North-East

In Manipur, OPDs were closed in all hospitals, including the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS).

In Arunachal Pradesh, doctors at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences staged a protest in front of the emergency and trauma department while the medicos at the Itanagar-based Ramakrishna Mission Hospital, West Siang district’s Aalo general hospital and Pasighat-based Bakin Pertin general hospital joined the nationwide protest.

Indian Medical Association Nagaland State Branch (IMANSB), Nagaland In-Service Doctors' Association (NIDA) and Indian Dental Association Nagaland State Branch (IDANSB) declared withdrawal of all services from 6 am to 6 pm in Nagaland.

Odisha

About 6,000 members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Odisha joined the protest across the state, leading to a closure of the OPDs, elective surgeries and lab services in both government and private hospitals. The Odisha Medical College Teachers' Association (OMTA) condemned the incident while the unrest could be seen at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack, MKCG Medical College and Hospital in Berhampur, and VIMSAR-Burla, among other places.

Karnataka

Over 1,000 doctors are participating in the protests in Bengaluru even as the health and family welfare department cancelled the leaves of doctors and surgeons to avoid emergency services getting affected.

Goa

Doctors practicing independently and those in various private hospitals in Goa left work from 6 am to join the nationwide protest and the agitation will continue for 24 hours.

(with inputs from PTI)