Doctors and medical students in Mumbai took to the streets on Tuesday, staging a protest outside Nair Hospital. This demonstration was part of a nationwide shutdown of Outpatient Department (OPD) services called by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA). The protest was triggered by the horrific sexual assault and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9th. The incident has shaken the medical community and sparked widespread outrage.
The protest served as a platform to not only condemn the heinous crime but also shed light on the legacy of RG Kar Medical College. This institution, founded in 1886, holds a significant place in Kolkata’s healthcare history. It was the first non-government medical college in Asia, a testament to the vision of its founder, Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar. Dr. Kar, who served as the college’s first secretary until his death in 1918, played a pivotal role in shaping healthcare in West Bengal and beyond. The Government of West Bengal took over the college in 1958.
Dr. Radha Gobinda Kar was a prominent figure in the medical field. Born in Howrah in 1852, he graduated from the Bengal Medical College (later known as Medical College, Calcutta), which was established in 1835 as Asia’s oldest medical college. In 1916, Calcutta University granted affiliation for the Preliminary Scientific MB course, which was extended to the first MB standard the following year. The college was renamed Carmichael Medical College in recognition of Lord Carmichael’s contributions. In 1933, a significant milestone was reached when RG Kar Medical College established the first Psychiatry OPD in Asia. The college continued to grow in stature and by 1941, it was recognized as a leading institution in India. Finally, in 1948, the college was renamed R. G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in honor of its founder.
The recent appointment of Prof. (Dr.) Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, to Calcutta National Medical College & Hospital sparked further controversy. Students protested against this appointment, raising concerns about a potential repeat of the issues that led to the tragic incident at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital. The protest, attended by West Bengal Minister Javed Ahmed Khan and TMC MLA Swarna Kamal, highlighted the students’ demand for justice and accountability. Dr. Ghosh, who had resigned from RG Kar Medical College & Hospital the previous day, was quickly reassigned. This move was met with criticism from students who called it unethical. They voiced their grievances with strong slogans like ‘Go Back’, urging the minister to address their concerns. The protest served as a stark reminder of the urgent need for systemic change within the healthcare system and the importance of addressing issues of safety and justice for medical professionals.
