Nationwide Medical Strike Over Trainee Doctor's Rape and Murder in Kolkata

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour strike by modern medicine doctors following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Essential services will remain functional, but OPDs and elective surgeries are suspended. Protests and strikes are ongoing nationwide.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour withdrawal of services by modern medicine doctors nationwide in response to widespread outrage over the rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College. Emergencies and casualties will remain operational, but OPDs and elective surgeries are suspended. The strike commenced at 6 am on Saturday and will conclude at 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024.

In Delhi, the Resident Doctors' Association UCMS and GTBH will continue their strike today, holding a General body meeting at 9.30 am. As part of the protest, outpatient departments and elective services, including laboratory operations, are shut down. Resident Doctors Associations of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Madras Medical College staged a boycott in Chennai against the incident.

Dr. Anil Kumar J Nayak, General Secretary of the IMA, emphasized the need for justice, stating, "We are with them... It has been a week, but no serious investigation has been conducted." In Mumbai and Thiruvananthapuram, hospitals also reported the continuation of emergency services despite the strike.

(With inputs from agencies.)