From candle light marches to vociferous protests, doctors across the country are on the streets seeking justice for their colleague, brutally attacked and killed at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. Saturday will see a 24 hour, nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association, seeking airport-type security protocols at hospitals, and a Central Act to protect healthcare workers from violence at their workplaces.
With several doctor associations expressing solidarity with the IMA’s call, hospital administrations are walking the fine line between supporting their medical staff, and ensuring emergency and casualty services. Patients who have planned surgeries on the day have been informed of the postponement, and if there are difficulties, it will be handled, said a representative with a corporate hospital, adding that patients will not be turned away. While some hospitals are not keeping their OPDs (Out patient departments) open, others have said, it would run with rotational doctors, who will be there with black bands of protest.
Mumbai’s Association of Hospitals said, “it supports the cause for ensuring safety of all doctors and other hospital staff, and stands in solidarity with the medical community.” However, in patient interest, it urged all hospitals “to continue operating emergency services and other operations as per their discretion to ensure continuity in patient care.” Gautam Khanna, AoH President told businessline, that they understood the doctors’ call, even as they took measures to ensure patient care was not hampered. Violence against healthcare workers is a serious concern, said Khanna, Chief Executive of Hinduja Hospital, adding that they have measures in place including security in the hospital, and placards stating that violence was an offence.
In its five-point ask, IMA said, “at the policy level the reluctance to acknowledge the violence on doctors and hospitals has to change.” It called for a Central Act incorporating the amendments of 2023 in the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 into the draft Hospital Protection Bill of 2019 to strengthen the existing 25 state legislations. “An Ordinance as in during the covid pandemic is in order,” it said. The doctors platform called for security protocols at hospitals to “be no less than an airport.” Declaring hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security entitlements is the first step, it said, calling for CCTVs, deployment of security personnel and other protocols as well.
Referring to the Kolkata incident, the IMA said, “ The 36 hours duty shift that the victim was in and the lack of safe spaces to rest and adequate rest rooms warrant thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of the resident doctors.” Further, it called for a professional investigation of the crime; besides exemplary punishment including to those who also vandalised the hospital. The doctors body also sought “appropriate and dignified compensation to the bereaved family commensurate with the cruelty inflicted.”
Essential services on
Several hospitals and healthcare platforms have supported the doctors’ call. The NATHEALTH-Healthcare Federation of India said, “Any act of violence against doctors or healthcare workers is unacceptable and deplorable,” calling for a strong legislative framework to protect healthcare workers.
Fortis Healthcare said it would support those who wished to participate in the nationwide shutdown. “Essential services will continue to be provided to ensure that patient care is not compromised,” it added. Max Healthcare also said, it respected the choices of doctors, and assured patients that essential services will remain uninterrupted.
The Association of Medical Consultants (AMC), representing over 15,000 specialists from public and private hospitals, also expressed its support. AMC President Dr Vivek Dwivedi said, “For years together, (such incidents) are happening in different parts of the country.” There was a feeling of “anxiety and disgust” among colleagues that justice was not being done, he said, articulating a sentiment expressed by many doctors.
(EOM)