IMA demands Central Law on violence against doctors, medical professionals; to go on nationwide 24-hour protest on Monday

In the wake of the attack on doctors at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) on June 8, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold a 24-hour-long protest on Monday. It will also stage a 'dharna' at IMA headquarters in Delhi. All Healthcare institutions and Doctors across the sectors will participate. Starting from 6am on Monday all non-essential services, including OPDs, will be closed.

In a statement issued by IMA on Sunday, IMA demanded a comprehensive Central Law dealing with violence on doctors, health staff in hospitals.

         The statement also said that:

• The security measures and the determinants leading on to violence must be addressed.
• Exemplary punishment of perpetrators of violence should be a component of the Central Law. 
• Hospitals should be declared as 'safe zones'.
• Structured safety measures including 3-layer security, CCTVs and restriction of entry of visitors should be well defined and must be enforced uniformly across the country in all sectors.

Read the press release below:

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Over 300 doctors in government hospitals across West Bengal had resigned over alleged violence against them in the state and the protests had spread to other parts of the country.

Following the assault of an intern doctors at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital on 11 June 2019,  doctors in Kolkata began protesting and demanded the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee to intervene and provide security to them. In a press brief on Saturday, the West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamta Banerjee calling for a 'peaceful solution' warned the doctors of arrests, and also stated that their demands would be met. On Saturday, the Resident Doctors Association at King George's Medical University in Lucknow also joined the pan-nation protests. The protests garnered a nationwide response from the fraternity.

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