Doctors of government hospitals across the country, including in the national capital, staged a protest on Monday against the rape and murder of a woman postgraduate trainee (PGT) doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata last week with a demand for justice for the victim.
Several government hospitals, including the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and GTB Hospital, held a protest demonstration in solidarity with the victims. The demonstration was held as part of the nationwide protest called by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) India seeking justice for the woman PGT doctor.
Earlier, the FORDA said as a mark of solidarity with the colleagues of RG Kar Medical College it announced a nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals starting from 12th August.
The AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association held a demonstration at its campus demanding immediate transfer of the investigation of the case to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and resignation of responsible authorities of the RG Kar Medical College for the alleged failure to protect the dignity and life of the on-duty female doctor.
Besides, the AIIMS RDA demanded adequate compensation to the victim’s family and immediate implementation of the Central Protection Act (CPA) or a similar law to ensure the protection of doctors across the country.
On Sunday, the Association held a candle march in solidarity with the victim and demanded justice for her.
Former AIIMS RDA president Dr Vinay Kumar, in a post on X, wrote, “Resident doctors from AIIMS New Delhi came out of AIIMS campus and sitting on the road, to support nationwide agitation due to the inaction by Mamata Banerjee government at RG Kar Hospital.”
Making a fervent appeal to the people to support the protest, he said, “What happened to the victim is a crime on the human body, not just on the doctor.”
The AIIMS said in a statement, “In view of the resident strike on 12th August, administrative rounds were conducted to find out the status of various patient care services. Emergency services are running heavier than normal with all residents attending to their duties and backed up by their respective faculty. The Emergency OPD census till 12 pm is 224.”
The premier institute said ICUs are functioning as usual with all residents attending to their duties.
On OPD, the AIIMS said, “The total registration of OPD patients on 12th August was 4053 as against the average of 6,500 in the main hospital on Mondays. A total of 203 admissions have been done against an average of 280 by 12 pm. Elective admissions have been suspended but emergency admissions are being done.”
Surgeries in OTs are restricted to vital elective cases and emergency cases only, it added.
Doctors at the RML Hospital staged protest holding placards and shouting slogans demanding a CBI probe into the matter. One of the protesting doctors said, “The culprits should be hanged. All the authorities should resign immediately.”
Talking to a news agency, FORDA India president Dr Aviral Mathur said, “This incident is condemnable. Everyone should condemn this.”
“We demand a CBI probe into this incident. We demand compensation (for the victim). We don’t want patients to suffer. Our demand should be addressed,” he said.
Meanwhile, FORDA India wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding justice for the deceased and enforcement of a mandated protocol for the security of healthcare workers across all hospitals, ensuring strict compliance and speeding up ratifying the CPA.
“As a mark of our solidarity with the colleagues of RG Kar Medical College, we have started nationwide halting of elective services in hospitals starting 12th August. This decision is not made lightly, but it is necessary to ensure that our voices are heard and that the demands for justice and safety are met without further delay,” it said.
In Uttar Pradesh, doctors held a protest at King George’s Medical University and Hospital in Lucknow.
In a post on X, the RDA Uttar Pradesh wrote, “Residents and doctors at KGMU Lucknow are on strike in solidarity with FORDA India and RDA UP, demanding justice for the horrific crime at RG Kar Medical College.”
“RDA Uttar Pradesh urges immediate action and accountability from the West Bengal government,” it said.