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In the wake of a nationwide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Centre has directed all healthcare institutions to file a case within six hours in case of violence against doctors. In a memo to all healthcare institutions, the Ministry of Health said the sole responsibility to file the FIR lies with the head of the institution.
The directive comes amid widespread protests by doctors across the country demanding the implementation of legislation to protect healthcare professionals against violence in the aftermath of the murder of the 31-year-old doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
Resident doctors from major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services and went on strike.
The protests gained momentum after a violent mob stormed the RG Kar Hospital on Wednesday night and ransacked the emergency ward. Junior doctors and staffers protesting against the murder were also allegedly beaten up, leading to a renewed call for withdrawal of elective services.
The Indian Medical Association, an umbrella body of doctors, has announced a 24-hour nationwide strike on August 17 during which non-emergency services would not be available. However, essential services and casualty wards will be operational at hospitals affiliated to the IMA.
Out-patient departments (OPD) will not function, and elective surgeries will not be conducted.
"After the brutal crime in RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day (Wednesday night), the Indian Medical Association declares nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday 17.08.2024 to 6 am Sunday 18.08.2024," the statement said.
The top medical body said it is the responsibility of the authorities to provide for the safety of doctors inside hospitals and campuses.
"Doctors, especially women, are vulnerable to violence because of the nature of the profession. Both physical assaults and crimes are a result of indifference and insensitivity of the authorities concerned to the needs of doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers," it said.
Earlier this week, another doctors' body, FORDA, had called off protests after it claimed that Health Minister JP Nadda had assured it of implementation of the Central Protection Act. However, the body resumed its strike after facing criticism from healthcare professionals.
"A key outcome of the meeting was the Health Minister's agreement to form a committee with FORDA's involvement to work on the Central Protection Act. The ministry has assured that work on this will begin within the next 15 days," the doctors' body had said in a statement.
