IMA's nationwide strike begins: OPDs, elective surgeries shut
By : Sampat G. Samritan
Update: 2024-08-17 05:50 GMT
New Delhi: Junior doctors, with support from their senior colleagues associated with Indian Medical Association (IMA), AP Government Doctors’ Association (APGDA) and several non-medical associations continued their protests and staged rallies, demanding protection for healthcare professionals at their workplaces.
While junior doctors are boycotting even emergency cases from August 15, IMA called for boycott of elective services, out-patient department (OPD) and emergency cases from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday to 6:00 am on Sunday. APGDA too joined this stir for an hour.
IMA, AP Chapter, has demanded that culprits involved in the heinous crime perpetrated on the PG medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata be tried in a fast track court and awarded severe punishment.
While junior doctors are boycotting even emergency cases from August 15, IMA called for boycott of elective services, out-patient department (OPD) and emergency cases from 6:00 a.m. on Saturday to 6:00 am on Sunday. APGDA too joined this stir for an hour.
IMA, AP Chapter, has demanded that culprits involved in the heinous crime perpetrated on the PG medical student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata be tried in a fast track court and awarded severe punishment.
The IMA further sought that hospitals be declared safe zones and sections of Andhra Pradesh Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act be made non-bailable, with enhancement of jail term to seven years from the proposed three years.
IMA AP chapter president Dr. M. Jayachandra Naidu said, “We appeal to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to declare all hospitals as safe zones, so that healthcare professionals can provide quality service to patients without the fear of any trouble.”
The IMA said Kerala and Karnataka states have brought in legislation in their respective assemblies to provide protection to healthcare professionals and ensure safety at their workplaces. “AP must follow suit,” Dr. M. Jayachandra Naidu remarked.
In the interim, the union ministry of health and family welfare has assured representatives of several associations in Delhi that it will constitute a committee to suggest all possible measures for ensuring safety of healthcare professionals. The committee will invite all stakeholders, including state governments, to share their suggestions with it.
AP Government Doctors Association president Dr. D. Jayadheer Babu said, “It is for the first time that all senior doctors have joined the stir across the state to ensure safety to healthcare professionals, apart from justice for the victim and her family.”
Junior doctors recalled how two of them had been attacked recently following the death of a patient at Siddhartha Medical College. They reiterated their demand for providing protection to healthcare professionals and arresting the culprits involved in the rape and murder of the PG student in Kolkata. Junior doctors reiterated that they will continue their stir and even boycott emergency care until their demands are fulfilled.
APJUDA adviser Dr. Md. Jahangir said, “We have been staging a series of protests on the issue. We are getting an overwhelming response for our stir, including from women and students’ groups.”
IMA AP chapter president Dr. M. Jayachandra Naidu said, “We appeal to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to declare all hospitals as safe zones, so that healthcare professionals can provide quality service to patients without the fear of any trouble.”
The IMA said Kerala and Karnataka states have brought in legislation in their respective assemblies to provide protection to healthcare professionals and ensure safety at their workplaces. “AP must follow suit,” Dr. M. Jayachandra Naidu remarked.
In the interim, the union ministry of health and family welfare has assured representatives of several associations in Delhi that it will constitute a committee to suggest all possible measures for ensuring safety of healthcare professionals. The committee will invite all stakeholders, including state governments, to share their suggestions with it.
AP Government Doctors Association president Dr. D. Jayadheer Babu said, “It is for the first time that all senior doctors have joined the stir across the state to ensure safety to healthcare professionals, apart from justice for the victim and her family.”
Junior doctors recalled how two of them had been attacked recently following the death of a patient at Siddhartha Medical College. They reiterated their demand for providing protection to healthcare professionals and arresting the culprits involved in the rape and murder of the PG student in Kolkata. Junior doctors reiterated that they will continue their stir and even boycott emergency care until their demands are fulfilled.
APJUDA adviser Dr. Md. Jahangir said, “We have been staging a series of protests on the issue. We are getting an overwhelming response for our stir, including from women and students’ groups.”