Following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, heathcare services in Ranchi too were severely affected.
Doctors in the State capital joined the 24- hour strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) which began at 6 am on Saturday morning and is to contibue till 6 am on Sunday, August 18.
The junior doctors at the State- run Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (Rims) continue to be on strike protesting the henious act. So far more than 40 major surgeries have been postponed with the maximum number being that of the general surgery department. Operations have also postponed for other departments including bone, neuro surgery, pediatric surgery, urology and cancer surgery to name a few.
In Jharkhand, women's wing of IMA, RDA CIP, HHPI, IAP, IDA, Jharkhand Paramedical Association along with private hospitals have decided to stop OPD services starting on Saturday.
The registration department is open but OPD slips are not being issued for the departments. Radiology tests are also closed as the junior doctors engaged in this are not providing any services. The protestors also lit candles in front of the trauma centre in the evening hours.
Secretary of IMA Jharkhand Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh said that this time health services will be completely stalled as more than 17 thousand doctors of the State will boycott work. Apart from this more than 25 thousand health workers including para medical staff, ANM, GNM nurses and physiotherapist association members will be on strike. The important issue in the strike will be the safety of doctors and for this the State government will also have to come forward.
"Like CBI and ED, there should be provision of SCAW i.e. serious crime against women in our country. Under SCAW, immediate action is taken on heinous crimes against women and the harshest punishment is given. This will ensure safety of women of all classes. Medical protection act must be implemented for doctors' safety. Whatever happened with a junior doctor in Kolkata after 36 hours of duty, such an incident should not happen in our State, so the State government should immediately implement the medical protection act. Resident doctors are present everywhere in the ward, ICU, operation theatre, most of which are women, who have to face the anger of the patient's relatives. It is the need of the hour for the government to make a safety policy for women for health workers," said Women Doctors Wing IMA, Jharkhand Chairperson Dr Bharti Kashyap.
Meanwhile, the Doctors Wives Associatio organised a silent march in the State capital on Saturday from IMA Hall, Bariatu till Karamtoli Chowk at around 4.30 pm in protest of the brutal physical assault and heinous murder of a young lady doctor at R.G Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The rally was led by the Chairperson Person Vinita Sharan, Founder cum Co-Chairperson Jhooma Sarkar, President Shreela Choudhary, Secretary Amrita Baidya and Treasurer Monideepa Dasgupta followed by a large group of members.
