IMA goes on 24-hour nationwide strike
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) initiated a nationwide strike on Saturday, August 17, in response to the brutal rape and murder of a second-year trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. General Secretary Anil Kumar J Nayak confirmed that the strike, lasting from 6 a.m. Saturday to 6 a.m. Sunday, will witness participation from all IMA members, with only emergency and casualty services remaining operational.
Nayak emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “All IMA members will observe the strike tomorrow; only Emergency & Casualty services will be available.” He highlighted ongoing concerns about the safety of healthcare professionals, noting, “Three days ago, we spoke to Union Health Minister JP Nadda on the law to curb attacks against doctors, and he was very positive. NMC also issued circulars regarding the security and management of CCTV cameras. We say that we will do duty if there is security. Today, there are over 60% women doctors.”
The incident that sparked this nationwide protest occurred on August 9 when the postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty. The tragedy has led to widespread outrage within the medical community, culminating in the decision to withdraw services across the country.