Kolkata rape-murder case: In a statement issued, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced that all physicians across the nation will suspend their hospital services for a duration of 24 hours, commencing on Saturday, August 17. This decision follows the escalating outrage over the heinous crimes of rape and murder against a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata. The IMA has mandated a nationwide shutdown of medical services, regardless of the sector or workplace. The association has clarified that this measure will be in effect for 24 hours, starting from the aforementioned date.
Initially, physicians had opted to cease their strike in protest of the atrocious incident. However, they subsequently decided to continue their strike following the vandalism of the RG Kar Medical College, the site of the crime, by an unidentified group during a nocturnal peaceful demonstration on August 14.
In its press release, the IMA has declared the withdrawal of services by all modern medicine practitioners across the country, irrespective of their sector or workplace. It has emphasized that “emergency and casualty services will continue to function,” while clarifying that “OPDs, elective surgeries, and all other non-urgent services will be suspended.” The withdrawal of services is scheduled to begin at 6 am on Saturday, August 17, 2024, and is expected to conclude at the same time on Sunday, August 18, 2024.
Furthermore, the association has outlined a list of demands, including the implementation of a central law to safeguard the well-being of doctors and healthcare workers. It has also called for the provision of security personnel at hospitals to be equivalent to that of an airport.
“Establishing hospitals as secure zones with mandatory security provisions is the initial step. This can be followed by the deployment of CCTV cameras, the assignment of security personnel, and the establishment of protocols,” the statement reads.
Additionally, the association has demanded a prompt and transparent investigation into the brutal crime and has expressed its support for the family of the deceased doctor, advocating for substantial compensation for the grievous harm inflicted upon their daughter.
On August 9, a 31-year-old postgraduate doctor was discovered deceased in the seminar hall of the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, with autopsy reports indicating sexual assault. The victim had sustained numerous injuries, including bleeding from the eyes and mouth, and had a fractured pelvic girdle.
This incident has sparked widespread national outrage, leading to a strike by the physician community across the nation, demanding immediate justice and the enactment of laws to enhance safety within the workplace.
Kolkata’s RG Kar faces vandalism
On August 16, the Calcutta High Court highlighted the absence of preventive measures aimed at addressing the vandalism that took place at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on the previous night, August 14. The court expressed its disbelief at the lack of awareness by the State police regarding the gathering of 7,000 individuals, given the significant number of attendees. “It is difficult to comprehend how such a large gathering could occur without the State police being aware,” the court stated. “The failure to prevent such an event is a clear indication of a breakdown within the State machinery.”
The police reported on Friday that they had apprehended 25 individuals in relation to the vandalism and violence that occurred at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. These individuals were subsequently remanded to police custody by a city court until August 22, according to officials.
On the same day, the hospital’s emergency ward, nursing station, medicine store, and sections of the outpatient department suffered damage at midnight due to acts of vandalism. This occurred during protests by women across West Bengal in response to the rape and murder of a doctor in the hospital’s seminar hall on August 9.
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