In a wave of outrage and grief, doctors and medical students across India are staging protests following the brutal murder of a woman post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The incident, which occurred on August 9th, has sparked widespread anger and calls for action to ensure the safety of healthcare workers.
The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has declared a nationwide shutdown of Outpatient Department (OPD) services as a powerful demonstration of their demands for justice and improved safety measures. Doctors and medical students are holding protests at various hospitals across the country, including AIIMS Patna, RML Hospital in New Delhi, and the Government Medical College & Hospital in Nagpur.
At AIIMS Patna, doctors and students are voicing their concerns and demanding swift action. Dr. Indra Shekhar Prasad, President of the Resident Doctors Association at AIIMS Delhi, expressed the deep sense of insecurity felt by healthcare workers, stating, “This is such a serious incident. A woman who was on duty was sexually assaulted and murdered brutally…if such incidents happen at workplaces, how will the women work?…we want a CBI probe into this, till then we will continue our protest.”
The protests are not limited to medical professionals. The Delhi National Commission for Women (NCW) has sent a team to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata to investigate the rape and murder of the young doctor.
The tragic incident has ignited calls for stronger security measures and a comprehensive investigation. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Union Minister JP Nadda, urging for a detailed inquiry into the circumstances that allowed this crime to occur. The IMA has also demanded the establishment of safe zones, defined security protocols, and a Central Law to deter violence against healthcare workers.
The protests are a stark reminder of the challenges faced by healthcare workers, who often work long hours and are vulnerable to threats and violence. The nationwide shutdown of OPD services is a powerful call for action, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach to ensure the safety and security of all healthcare professionals.
