Recent reports indicate that hospital services in various Indian cities have been disrupted due to a widespread doctors’ protest following the tragic rape and murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata. Thousands of doctors took to the streets in Kolkata and other cities in West Bengal to demand justice for the victim and improved security measures at medical facilities.
The 31-year-old trainee doctor was found dead at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, with autopsy results confirming she was sexually assaulted before her death. A police volunteer has since been arrested in connection with the heinous crime.
Medical students in Kolkata protest the medic’s rape and murder [Sahiba Chawdhary/Reuters]
Protests have now spread to other parts of India, with government doctors in Maharashtra state and other regions joining the movement by halting non-emergency services in hospitals. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association has called for a nationwide suspension of elective services, impacting healthcare facilities across the country.
In Kolkata, emergency services remain suspended in government-run medical college hospitals, prompting concerns about the impact on healthcare delivery. Meanwhile, junior doctors in New Delhi and other cities have staged peaceful demonstrations to highlight the safety concerns faced by medical professionals.
Doctors and medical students hold their phone flashlights during a protest inside the premises of Dr R Ahmed Dental College and Hospital in Kolkata [Sahiba Chawdhary/Reuters]
As the protests continue, it is evident that the medical community in India is united in demanding justice and safety for healthcare workers. The impact of these demonstrations on hospital services underscores the urgent need for addressing security concerns in medical facilities across the country.
Source: www.aljazeera.com
