THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, August 17: Health services in West Bengal were badly affected on Saturday as doctors across the state joined protests and struck work against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
On August 9, a 31-year-old female trainee doctor was found with injuries in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy later revealed that she had been raped before being murdered. The accused, Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested on August 10 and placed in 14-day police custody.
Doctors’ strike continues for the sixth day
Meanwhile, in the national capital, Delhi, the indefinite strike by doctors continued on Saturday for the sixth day, with all elective services suspended at hospitals. Additionally, strikes persisted in several cities across the country.
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In Kolkata, doctors at both government and private hospitals protested the vandalism at RG Kar Hospital on August 14, leading to disruptions in outpatient services. The situation was similar in private healthcare institutions across the state.
The vandalism has caused widespread outrage across the country, with doctors in almost all states taking to the streets demanding justice for the trainee doctor and raising other demands.
IMA’s 24-hour nationwide strike
In Delhi, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) began a 24-hour nationwide strike on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. All elective services at hospitals were suspended. Members of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) of major hospitals planned to gather again in the evening for further protests after demonstrating in various parts of the city.
Doctors from Delhi government hospitals held protest marches and candlelight vigils across the city against the rape and murder incident, in response to calls from various RDAs, including those from AIIMS, RML Hospital, and DDU Hospital.
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The IMA collectively agreed to implement a unified action plan aimed at demanding a comprehensive act for the safety of healthcare workers and the protection of their lives across the country. The RDA emphasized that the protests are not only about seeking justice but also about preventing future violence and ensuring the safety of those on the front lines of healthcare services.
