On Tuesday morning, August 13, resident doctors across Maharashtra began an indefinite strike in response to the rape and death of a postgraduate trainee at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The Maharashtra State Association of Residential Doctors (MARD) confirmed that the strike started at 9 am.
All elective services in hospitals across the state have been suspended. However, emergency services will continue, Dr. Pratik Debaje, president of MARD told PTI.
In Mumbai, four medical colleges run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will also be affected. These are KEM Hospital in Parel, Sion Hospital, Nair Hospital near Mumbai Central, and Cooper Hospital in Juhu. Additionally, it impacts four state-run hospitals: JJ Hospital in Byculla, Cama, St. George’s, and GT Hospital near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT).
Hospital staff received emails from their deans and medical superintendents about all of their leaves being canceled. Senior medical instructors, lecturers, and bonded candidates from various medical schools will run the hospitals during the strike.
The protest is part of a nationwide demonstration by resident doctors against the Kolkata incident, which began on Monday, August 12. On the same day, Maharashtra’s resident doctors announced that they would join the protest on Tuesday. It was reported that about 8,000 resident doctors from public hospitals across the state would join the strike.
Central MARD condemns the heinous incident that happened in R. G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata and stands in solidarity with the medical fraternity nationwide.
— CENTRAL_MARD (@Central_MARD) August 10, 2024
We urge the concerned authorities to take immediate action to bring justice and ensure safety of doctors. pic.twitter.com/vjU9eRxPwU
In a statement, MARD expressed deep grief and outrage over the tragic incident. They made the following demands in their press release:
1. immediate action, including a prompt and transparent investigation by central authorities.
2. protection for demonstrating doctors, and no police brutality
3. better security measures at hospitals, like installing functional CCTVs and providing well-equipped security guards.
4. improved on-call rooms and high-quality hostels for resident doctors.
5. creation of an expert committee to expedite the Central Healthcare Protection Act's execution.
MARD stressed that those responsible for the crime must be brought to justice as soon as possible. “We strongly condemn this barbaric act and demand that the perpetrators be swiftly identified and brought to justice. Resident doctors will render their services in emergency duties to ensure that patient care is not compromised during this period,” the statement said.
The Maharashtra Association of Bonded Resident Doctors (MABRD) also supported the strike. They demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident.
On Friday, August 9, a postgraduate trainee doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata was found dead and in a partially unclothed state inside the hospital's seminar hall. She had sustained injuries to her private parts and other body areas. Her neck bone was also broken.
On Saturday, August 10, police arrested Sanjoy Roy, a community volunteer, in connection with rape and murder case of the trainee. He was reportedly captured on CCTV footage and later appeared in court. He was placed in police custody for 14 days.
Share
Tweet
