Condemning the brutal rape and murder of a post graduate student of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata on August 9, doctors of Manipur stepped up protests and extended solidarity to the 24-hour nationwide protest announced by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
The Executive committee meeting of Teachers’ and Medical Officers Association (TAMOA) of RIMS have resolved to support the nationwide withdrawal of patients care services (OPD and elective surgeries) from 6 am of Saturday to 6 am of Sunday.
The resolution was taken during the association’s meeting on Friday in support of the nationwide protest called by the doctors against fatal assault on a Post Graduate student on duty at RG Kar Medical College, West Bengal, stated a release.
However, emergency and in patients care services will continue as usual, it mentioned.
Meanwhile, the Association of HealthCare Providers (India), Manipur Chapter (AHPI), expressed grief over the incident that occurred at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata in the wee hours of August 9, in which a lady doctor was brutally raped and murdered in the college campus while resting in the seminar hall after a 36 hours shift.
AHPI-Manipur Chapter condemned the heinous act that violates the integrity of the individual as well as the institution, stated a release jointly issued by association president, Dr Palin Khundongbam and general secretary, Dr James Elangbam.
The incident, which involved a violent attack on a healthcare professional within the premises of one of the country’s most prestigious medical institutions, is both alarming and unacceptable, it asserted.
It maintained that the safety and security of healthcare providers are paramount, as they are the backbone of the healthcare system, tirelessly working to save lives and improve public health.
Any act of violence against them not only disrupts medical services but also undermines the sanctity of medical institutions and the trust that the public places in healthcare, it stated.
It extended full solidarity with the medical fraternity at RG Kar Medical College during such a difficult time. It further urged the authorities to take immediate and stringent action against the perpetrators involved in the cowardly act.
It is imperative that those responsible are brought to justice swiftly to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future, it added.
It stated that member hospitals of AHPI Manipur Chapter will withdraw routine OPD, IPO, OT and diagnostic services for 24 hours starting 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday. However, emergency services will remain open, it mentioned.
BABINA Diagnostics has also declared solidarity to Indian Medical Association’s call for withdrawal of service as a solidarity protest against the rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, by halting routine tests from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday, said a release.
Only emergency tests will be conducted, it stated and urged all the staff to acknowledge and prepare accordingly.
Teachers’ Association, JNIMS has also extended support to IMA’s declaration of 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors from 6 am on Saturday to 6 am on Sunday.
Teachers Association, JNIMS, N Kumarjit Singh, in a release, informed that all essential services will be maintained, causalities will be manned, routine OPD will not be functional and elective surgeries will not be conducted.
It condemned the brutal rape and murder of the 2nd Year PG student of Chest Medicine at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata in the early hour of August 9. It mentioned that resident doctors have been on strike in protest against the brutal acts and candle marches have been held across the country by IMA as well.
On the other hand, Medical Superintendent, JNIMS Hospital, Porompat, Professor Kh Lokeshwar Singh, in a circular, said that in the wake of the nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine by IMA from 6 am of Saturday to 6 am of Sunday during which essential services will be maintained, casualties will be manned, all the emergency cases will be covered/attended by the concerned doctors on duty and consultants.
