Doctors Strike in UP Over Trainee Doctor's Tragic Death

Doctors in Uttar Pradesh affiliated with the Indian Medical Association halted work to protest the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata. This caused a severe disruption in healthcare services. They demand a central law for doctors' safety and the declaration of hospitals as safe zones. The strike is set to continue until Sunday morning.

Doctors running private clinics and nursing homes in Uttar Pradesh, associated with the Indian Medical Association, suspended their services on Saturday in a protest against the alleged rape and murder of a female doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The protest disrupted healthcare services across several districts in Uttar Pradesh, leading to overcrowding at government hospitals. In Lucknow, junior doctors from KGMU participated in a 'Kala Rakshabandhan' by tying black bands on their hands. Despite the strike, the Provincial Medical Service Association, which represents government hospital doctors, continued their work but extended moral support to the striking doctors.

''Our demand from the government is to make a central law for the safety of doctors and declare hospitals as safe areas with mandatory security rights,'' said Dr. MM Paliwal, provincial president of UP IMA. The service boycott, which commenced on Saturday morning, is expected to continue until 6 am on Sunday. In addition to seeking justice for the deceased trainee doctor, the protesters also condemned the vandalism at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The strike affected several hospitals, including SPGI and Lohia, with junior doctors' services suspended for the sixth consecutive day. A massive influx of patients was reported at government hospitals in Lucknow and Balrampur, including Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Civil Hospital and Jhalkari Bai Hospital.

(With inputs from agencies.)