Doctors' Protest: IMA Announces 24-Hour Strike Across India Over Kolkata Hospital Incident

RG Kar Doctor Death: The brutal rape and murder of a junior doctor at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal's Kolkata last week has caused an uproar. In response, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a nationwide halt of services by modern medicine practitioners.

This protest will last 24 hours starting at 6 am on Saturday, August 17 and ending at 6 am on Sunday, August 18. The medical body stated that essential services will continue to operate during the strike, and doctors will attend to emergency cases. However, routine outpatient departments (OPDs) will close, and the hospitals will postpone elective surgeries during this time, according to the IMA.

"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: Indian Medical Association," the medical body said. Meanwhile, following the incident of vandalism at the RG Kar Medical Hospital, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has announced that it will resume its protest with 'renewed resolve' just two days after it decided to call it off.

The death and rape of the physician trainee reignited rage over violence against women and prompted nationwide protests by colleagues. Resident doctors across major government hospitals in Delhi, including AIIMS, VMMC-Safdarjung Hospital and Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, shut down elective services on Monday morning.

Three days after the rape and murder of the 31-year-old trainee doctor -- and went on strike, demanding better security and safety measures for medical personnel, and the central law. On Tuesday, the FORDA said it had decided to call off its strike after a meeting with Union Health Minister JP Nadda.

Author: Aarya Kadam
News Writer