Outrage continues to grow over the horrific rape and murder of a young doctor in Kolkata, leading to a nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) starting Saturday morning. The strike is set to be one of the largest in over a decade, with most hospital departments across the country expected to shut down from 6 AM on August 17 to 6 AM on August 18.
The strike follows the tragic incident on August 9, when a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The medical community has since been holding widespread demonstrations and protests across India.
What’s Open and Closed During the Strike?
- Timing: The nationwide strike will commence at 6 AM on Saturday, August 17, and will continue until 6 AM on Sunday, August 18.
- Services Affected: Routine outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will be shut down in both public and private hospitals.
- Essential Services: Emergency care, critical treatments, and casualty services will remain operational to handle urgent medical needs.
Medical Fraternity Rallies in Support
- Amritsar: The Resident Doctors Association at Government Medical College, Amritsar, has suspended all non-essential services, including OPDs, operating theaters, and wards, from August 16 until further notice.
- Delhi: Resident Doctors’ Associations across Delhi will hold a joint protest march on August 16, beginning at 2 PM from Nirman Bhavan. The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) is organizing a candlelight march at India Gate at 5 PM the same day.
- Mumbai: The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) will stage a protest at Azad Maidan on August 16.
- Siliguri: The Socialist Unity Centre of India (Communist) has called a 12-hour general strike in Siliguri on August 16, which has led to significant disruptions in the city, with most shops remaining closed since Thursday evening.
The nationwide strike reflects the medical fraternity’s deep anger and grief over the incident, calling for swift justice and heightened safety measures for healthcare professionals.