New Delhi: The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) is continuing its nationwide shutdown of OPD services on Wednesday in protest of the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
FAIMA, after discussions with Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs), states that the issue remains unresolved and demands central protection for healthcare workers (HCWs).
On X, FAIMA Doctors Association communicated, “We had a meeting with all the associated RDAs Pan India. Matter is not solved yet. @AmitShahOffice ji @JPNadda ji our demand is Central protection for HCW. Strike to be continued tomorrow. We are standing with you all, our dear Residents.”
Resident doctors at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) have decided to maintain the ongoing strike until their demands are fully met and provided in writing.
The strike aims to condemn the brutal incident and seek justice and protection for healthcare workers.
“We the office bearers of BMC MARD convened a meeting, and have decided that the ongoing strike will continue until all the demands put forth by the association are fully met and provided in writing. The decision to persist with the strike is firm, and no actions will be taken to end it until our demands are addressed satisfactorily,” stated the BMC MARD in their announcement.
The incident from August 9 has incited widespread outrage, leading to protests across various medical communities. At the Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital (ANMMC) in South Bihar, doctors protested by sitting in front of the hospital’s superintendent with placards demanding justice for the victim.
Resident doctors of the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) also staged a protest. Dr Himanshu of the psychiatric department spoke to ANI about their demands.
“We have only three demands. The culprit should be immediately punished. There should be a central Act for all the residents’ doctors and their protection inside the hospital,” Dr Himanshu said.
He also mentioned that while all OPDs were closed during the protest, emergency services remained open for patients.
Similar protests and strikes are anticipated to continue until the demands of the resident doctors are adequately addressed, ensuring their safety and justice for the victim.
The collective actions reflect the medical community’s solidarity and urgent call for systemic changes to protect their members.
(The victim’s identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme Court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
