The elective medical services at hospitals in Delhi for the sixth day running remained suspended as medical professionals in the nation’s capital continue to protest in support of justice for the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata.

The 24-hour nationwide strike by the Indian Medical Association commenced at 6 am on Saturday. Following Friday’s protests in several sections of the city, major hospital resident doctors’ association (RDA) members will assemble again in the evening to continue their protests.

In response to requests from several RDAs, including those from AIIMS, RML Hospital and DDU Hospital, doctors in Delhi’s government hospitals held candlelight vigils and protest marches throughout the city in protest of the rape-murder tragedy.

The associations decided to work together to put into effect a united action plan with the goal of advocating for a central protection Act, which they feel is essential to protecting the lives and interests of healthcare professionals across the country.

The RDAs stressed that their demonstration is a call for action to stop more violence and protect the safety of those providing healthcare, in addition to demanding justice.

On Friday, thousands of doctors who had been protesting on their respective hospital premises came out and demonstrated in different parts of Delhi, including a dharna outside the Nirman Bhawan. Patients, meantime, have been having difficulty getting the essential medical care since Monday, and several of them have expressed their frustration about this. “We agree what happened was brutal and swift justice should be provided, but you cannot harm innocent people. Since Monday, I’ve been trying to get my treatment but the hospital staff asked me to return because the doctors are on strike. It’s been five days now, and we’re still not getting our treatment. If we could afford private services, we wouldn’t have to stand in line at 4 am. We hope a doctor will end this and eventually treat us,” a patient who has come for treatment at Delhi, AIIMS from Sohna, Haryana said.

Doctors in protest have promised that critical emergency services, such as intensive care units, emergency procedures, and emergency operating rooms, will keep running smoothly.

In the meantime, government hospitals that are on strike are receiving assistance from private hospitals as well. Still, there’s no sign that private hospitals are cutting back on elective care.

(with inputs from PTI)