The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has decided to continue its nationwide shutdown of Outpatient Department (OPD) services. This decision comes after a discussion with the Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) to show solidarity following the tragic sexual assault and murder of a female postgraduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.
FAIMA’s Announcement on Social Media
FAIMA took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to announce the continuation of the strike. The FAIMA Doctors Association stated, “We had a meeting with all the associated RDAs Pan India. Matter is not solved yet. @AmitShahOffice ji @JPNadda ji our demand is Central protection for HCW. Strike to be continued tomorrow. We are standing with you all, our dear Residents.”
This message highlights the association’s ongoing concern and emphasizes their demand for central protection for healthcare workers (HCWs).
BMC MARD’s Firm Stance on the Strike
In Maharashtra, the resident doctors at the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) have also decided to continue their strike. Their decision was made in response to the brutal incident in Kolkata, with the goal of ensuring that their demands are fully met and provided in writing.
The BMC MARD released a statement saying, “We the office bearers of BMC MARD convened a meeting, and have decided that the ongoing strike will continue until all the demands put forth by the association are fully met and provided in writing. The decision to persist with the strike is firm, and no actions will be taken to end it until our demands are addressed satisfactorily.”
Protests and Strikes Across India
The incident has sparked widespread outrage, not just within the medical community but also beyond. On Tuesday, doctors at Anugrah Narayan Magadh Medical College Hospital (ANMMC), the largest government hospital in South Bihar, held a protest in response to the tragic event. The protesting doctors sat in front of the hospital superintendent’s office with placards demanding justice.
Similar protests were seen at Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC), where resident doctors also expressed their demands. Dr. Himanshu from the psychiatric department spoke to ANI, stating that the doctors have put forward only three demands: “The culprit should be immediately punished. There should be a central Act for all the residents’ doctors and their protection inside the hospital.”
Despite the ongoing protests and shutdown of OPD services, emergency services at the hospitals remain open to ensure that critical care is still available to patients.
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