Condemning any form of violence especially against medical professionals in the country, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said the protest will continue on Saturday and Sunday as well, which will include wearing black badges, dharnas and peace marches, and called for a strike on June 17 with withdrawal of non-essential health services. At least 3.5 lakh doctors are expected to participate in the strike.
The IMA, which had earlier called for a day-long protest, said it has taken the decision in view of the continued suffering of the resident doctors and repeated occurrence of such incidents without redressal.
In a letter to Shah, the IMA requested him “to bring a central legislation in the form of special law against violence on doctors and health care establishments”.
“Any form of violence against medical profession and facilities will be counterproductive, demoralise health providers, thus taking away the confidence and courage of medical profession especially in critical situations,” it said. “Ultimately the situation will adversely impact on patient care and safety and implications will be far-reaching.”
Renewing the demand for a central law, the IMA said the law should have a provision for a minimum of seven-year jail sentence to violaters.
The IMA said all non-essential services including OPDs will be withdrawn for 24 hours from 6 am on June 17, while emergency and causality services will continue to function.
The doctors have been agitating since Tuesday in West Bengal demanding security for themselves in government hospitals, after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured allegedly by relatives of a patient who died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata. (With inputs from various sources)