IMA Announces 24-Hour Nationwide Service Suspension Starting 17th August for Kolkata Victim Justice

New Delhi, 16th August 2024: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) announced a 24-hour suspension of services starting at 6 am on 17th August as part of ongoing protests for justice for the Kolkata victim. Meanwhile, a prominent junior doctors’ association has resumed their strike with renewed determination after admitting that its previous decision to call it off caused dissatisfaction within the medical community.

“The IMA is calling for a nationwide withdrawal of services by modern medicine doctors from 6 am on Saturday (17th August) to 6 am Sunday (18th August). Essential services will continue, and emergency departments will be staffed,” stated the association.

“Routine outpatient services and elective surgeries will not be available during this period. The strike will affect all sectors where modern medicine doctors work. The IMA calls for the nation’s understanding and support for this just cause,” said India’s largest medical body in its statement.

The IMA’s decision to strike coincided with the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) rejoining the protests after facing backlash for their earlier decision to halt the strike.

“We recognize that our prior decision to end the strike, made in good faith after receiving assurances from the health ministry, caused distress within our community. We take full responsibility and understand the dissatisfaction it sparked,” FORDA expressed.

This reversal comes two days after FORDA representatives met with Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda and announced the strike’s suspension, a move that was met with anger among resident doctors across India.

Members of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) confirmed that they would continue suspending elective medical services indefinitely. FAIMA also held a candlelight vigil outside the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and called for a protest march from Lady Hardinge Medical College to Jantar Mantar on 17th August.

Nationwide protests by junior doctors disrupted outpatient, elective surgery, and diagnostic services at most government hospitals, although emergency services remained unaffected.

The striking doctors received support from senior physicians, who also advocated for a central law to protect healthcare workers from violence, alongside seeking justice for the female doctor who was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

Resident doctors from various states also pledged to continue the strike until their demands were addressed.

Referring to the violence at RG Kar Hospital, doctors described it as a tragic moment for the profession. “We strongly condemn both the Union Ministry and State government for failing to honour their promises and safeguard healthcare workers during this crisis,” FORDA said in a statement.