Nagpur: Doctors and medical students in Nagpur staged a protest at the Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) on Tuesday, aligning with a nationwide strike called by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA). The strike was triggered by the horrific sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
The protest in Nagpur was part of a larger movement across Maharashtra, where nearly 40,000 doctors have suspended outpatient department (OPD) services. Dr. Diksha Bajaj, a protesting doctor at GMCH, expressed the deep concerns of the medical community, stating, “Doctors spend more time in hospitals than at home. This is our second home. If we are not safe here, where will we be safe? We demand our safety and nothing else.”
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Monday 07 Oct. 2024
The protest in Mumbai saw a significant turnout as well, with doctors and medical students gathering at Nair Hospital. Dr. Akshay Dongardive, General Secretary of BMC MARD, emphasized the severity of the incident, comparing it to the infamous Nirbhaya case. He called for a Central Protection Act for doctors and demanded justice for the deceased doctor, urging the State Government and the Centre to intervene and order a CBI inquiry.
As the strike continues, patients across the country are facing disruptions in medical services. In Kolkata, the OPD at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was shut down, leaving patients standing in uncertainty for hours.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar criticized West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for delaying the CBI inquiry into the case. Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, demanding a detailed inquiry into the conditions that led to the crime and urging for enhanced safety measures for doctors, particularly women, in the workplace.
The medical community across the country is unified in its demand for justice and improved safety protocols, with the strike expected to continue until these demands are met.
