Doctors at 10 government hospitals in Delhi have begun an indefinite strike on Monday, halting all elective services, demanding probe in the recent rape and murder of trainee doctor in Kolkata.
The strike is being carried out at Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, IHBAS, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases. The Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDA) announced that the strike started at 9 am.
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According to the Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDA), the indefinite strike will result in the closure of all outpatient departments (OPDs), operation theatres (OTs), and ward duties. However, emergency services will continue as usual to ensure that urgent patient care remains unaffected.
The strike was called by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Associations (FORDA) in response to the recent rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The 32-year-old woman’s semi-naked body was discovered in a seminar hall at the government-run hospital in West Bengal’s capital on Thursday night.
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“As a mark of solidarity with our colleagues at RG Kar, we announce a nationwide suspension of elective services in hospitals starting Monday, August 12. This decision is not made lightly but is necessary to ensure that our voices are heard and that the demands for justice and safety are addressed without further delay,” the statement read.
Hospital services disrupted across West Bengal
Meanwhile, hospital services across West Bengal were disrupted on Monday as junior doctors, interns, and postgraduate trainees continued their strike for the fourth consecutive day.
For the past three days, junior doctors had been handling emergency duties, but as of Monday morning, they have halted even those responsibilities, sources said.
“We want an impartial investigation into the murder of our colleague, either by the CBI or a sitting magistrate. We are dissatisfied with the current police investigation and will continue our protest until justice is served and the state ensures foolproof security for all doctors and healthcare workers,” said a protesting junior doctor from RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the incident took place.