Kolkata Doc’s Rape-Murder Case: IMA Announces Withdrawal Of Services For 24 Hours On August 17

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared nationwide withdrawal of non-essential services by doctors from 6 am on Saturday, August 17 to 6 am on Sunday, August 18, for 24 hours.

The decision to withdraw services was taken as a mark of protest against the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, IMA informed in a statement, according to ANI.

“All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors: Indian Medical Association (IMA),” the statement issued by IMA read.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) also announced a protest against the incident at Azad Maidan in Mumbai today.

“To voice our protest against these acts, we (BMC MARD, IMA, IMA JDN, ASMI) are organising a peaceful protest at Azad Maidan, Mumbai, on 16th August 2024 at 1 pm. We urge our fellow medical colleagues, doctors, medical students, resident doctors, senior doctors and other associations to join us in this protest against the injustice,” MARD stated in a press release.

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) on Thursday decided to resume its strike hours after unidentified miscreants vandalised RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where a trainee doctor was brutally raped and murdered last week. The decision came two days after the doctor’s body on Tuesday decided to call off its strike on Tuesday.

Announcing its decision to resume its strike, FORDA said it was “shocked and anguished” by the violence at the RG Kar Medical College And Hospital.

“In light of the recent troubling events at RG Kar Medical College, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) addresses our colleagues, the medical community, and the public with renewed resolve… We acknowledge that our earlier decision to call off the strike, made in good faith based on assurances from the Ministry, has caused distress and disappointment within our community. We accept responsibility for this and understand the widespread discontent it has caused,” the organisation said in a statement, News18 reported.

Meanwhile, people from the Bengali film and television industry have also joined hands with protesting doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.