Kolkata Doctor Rape-Murder Case: IMA Announces Nationwide Withdrawal Of Non-Essential Medical Services For 24 Hours From Saturday

To express solidarity with the ongoing protests against the rape and murder of a woman on-duty doctor at Kolkata’s R G Kar Government College and Hospital, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour nationwide strike, suspending non-emergency medical services starting from 6 am on Saturday (17 August).

Medical professionals nationwide have been protesting against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College.

The IMA’s Thursday announcement marks the first coordinated nationwide suspension of non-essential medical services.

"All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all the sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing service. IMA requires the sympathy of the nation with the just cause of its doctors," a release from the IMA said.

The shocking incident at Kolkata’s government-run medical college has sparked widespread anger, with the Bengali film and television industry joining forces with the protesting doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

On 9 August, a postgraduate trainee doctor was found murdered while on duty at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata.

Reports since have said that the victim was also raped, with Kolkata police arresting multiple people since the event and interrogating many more.

Chaos erupted at the R G Kar Hospital around midnight on Thursday, as a violent mob attacked the hospital.

During this turmoil, at least 18 departments, including the Emergency, ICU, HDU, and even storerooms, male wards, and bathrooms, were vandalized, and CCTV cameras were destroyed.

The IMA strongly condemned the acts of vandalism at the Kolkata hospital, stating that the "authorities, who by their negligence had allowed such a heinous crime to happen, have once again failed to maintain law and order when an all-important CBI investigation is going on."

Earlier this week, the Calcutta High Court handed over the investigation of the incident from Kolkata Police to the CBI.

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) also took suo motu cognizance of the 9 August events, based on media reports, and requested a detailed report within two weeks.

"Reportedly, the body of the deceased bore scratch marks, indicating that there was some struggle at the time of the incident. The family has reportedly alleged that the victim was raped and murdered," the rights panel said.

The Commission said it would also like to know about the steps taken or proposed by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

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