Doctors strike: Decision to treat patients outside Health Ministry

On the eighth day of the doctors’ strike in protest against the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata, the Resident Doctors Association has decided to treat patients outside the Health Ministry.

Doctors strike: The nationwide strike of doctors against the rape and brutal murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata continued for the eighth day today on Monday. This protest has shaken the medical community across the country, and the strike raises serious questions about the safety of doctors and their working environment.

The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) has announced through a press release that from now on they will provide treatment to patients symbolically outside the Ministry of Health. The association clarified that OPD services of about 36 specialities including medicine, surgery, obstetrics gynaecology, paediatrics, eye problems, and orthopedics will be made available to the patients. This step has been taken to provide immediate relief to the patients, while the doctors’ strike will continue.

However, emergency services will continue as before in all hospitals, so that patients can get timely treatment in case of emergency. The doctors have made it clear that their strike will continue till they are assured of adequate security in hospitals under the central security rules.

Earlier on Sunday, the All India Medical Association Federation had also expressed deep concern over the issue and demanded immediate action from the government. The incident has created an atmosphere of fear and insecurity within the medical community across the country, and the agitation against it is still going on.

This agitation of doctors not only reflects their frustration towards their security rights but also demands reforms in the healthcare system so that such heinous crimes can be avoided in future.