The Union government is set to take strong action following the horrific rape and murder of a doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9th. The incident, which has drawn comparisons to the 2012 Delhi gangrape and murder, has sparked a national outcry and demands for immediate change.
In response to the tragedy, the National Medical Commission (NMC), the country’s medical education regulator, will review a status report on the incident submitted by the dean and senior management of the medical college. Based on the findings, the NMC will take action against the college, potentially imposing penalties, reducing student intake, and even revoking its recognition if it falls short of NMC standards. The NMC is also considering a physical inspection of the college in the coming days.
An official, speaking anonymously, indicated that the Centre is working on issuing comprehensive guidelines for hospitals nationwide to ensure the safety of both female doctors and patients.
The incident has led to a wave of protests at government hospitals across India. Resident doctors, frustrated by the lack of safety and justice, have announced an indefinite strike in several government hospitals, disrupting patient care services.
“The entire medical community stands in solidarity with the doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital,” said Dr. Indra Shekar Prasad, president of the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi. “We residents, fellows, and undergraduates of AIIMS are on indefinite strike, halting academic activities, elective OPDs, ward, and OT services. However, emergency services remain open.”
Doctors are demanding a thorough investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the suspension of the former college principal during the inquiry, and the implementation of a central law to prevent violence against healthcare professionals. They also call for the victim to be declared a martyr and for adequate compensation for her family.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) reports that over 75% of doctors have faced some form of violence while on duty, with verbal abuse being a daily occurrence. “The safety of healthcare workers is still better in places like Delhi, but if you go and see hospitals in other states, they have very poor facilities for doctors and negligible safety,” Dr. Prasad stated.
This tragic incident has exposed a critical issue facing the healthcare sector in India, highlighting the urgent need for increased safety measures and a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against healthcare professionals. The nation awaits the outcomes of the investigation and the implementation of meaningful reforms to prevent future tragedies.
