New Delhi, August 17, 2024, The Europe Today: According to the NHC,Indian medical professionals initiated a 24-hour shutdown of non-essential medical services on Saturday, as protests escalated following the rape and murder of a female medical trainee in Kolkata. The shutdown, which commenced at 6 a.m. (0030 GMT), was organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and affected elective medical procedures and out-patient consultations across the country, the world’s most populous nation. Essential services, however, remained operational.
The protests were sparked by the tragic incident at the R G Kar government hospital in Kolkata, where a 31-year-old medical trainee was brutally raped and murdered after working nearly 20 hours of a 36-hour shift. The incident has galvanized the medical community and the public, leading to widespread demonstrations demanding better safety for doctors and accountability for the crime.
The IMA, in a statement released on Friday, highlighted the vulnerability of doctors, particularly women, to violence due to the nature of their profession. The association called on authorities to ensure the safety of healthcare workers in hospitals and on campuses, citing the indifference and insensitivity of officials as contributing factors to the ongoing threats and assaults faced by medical professionals.
Protests Spread Across Indian Cities
In response to the incident, thousands of people marched through various cities on Friday, calling for enhanced security measures for doctors and justice for the slain medic. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led a rally in Kolkata, while protests also took place in major cities such as New Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad.
The demonstrations, largely peaceful, have seen participants from all walks of life, including students, doctors, and residents, coming together to voice their demands. However, tensions flared on Wednesday night when a mob vandalized the hospital where the medic was killed, further intensifying the protests.
Support for the shutdown has been widespread, with multiple medical unions in both government and private hospitals backing the IMA’s call for action. Suvrankar Datta, a resident doctor at a top government hospital in New Delhi, indicated that protests would continue, potentially disrupting hospital services in the capital in the coming days.
Concerns Over Safety and Sexual Violence
The case has drawn attention to the broader issue of safety for healthcare workers in India, with doctors frequently reporting threats to their lives while on duty. The incident has also reignited discussions on the pervasive problem of sexual violence against women in the country. Many Indian women have taken to social media to share their own experiences of feeling unsafe, underscoring the urgent need for systemic change.
In the wake of the murder, there have been calls for increased security measures, including the installation of cameras on university campuses. The investigation into the crime has been transferred to a federal agency after state government officials were accused of mishandling the case.
As the nation mourns the loss of a young medic, the medical community and the public continue to demand justice and reforms to protect those who dedicate their lives to saving others.
