Nationwide Healthcare Disruptions as Doctors Strike Over Kolkata Trainee’s Death; CBI Steps In

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 14th August. OPD services in government hospitals across several states were disrupted on Tuesday as the resident doctors’ strike, sparked by the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor in Kolkata, entered its second day. The strike continued even as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) took over the investigation into the case.

The Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA), which called for a nationwide indefinite strike, announced on Tuesday night that it would call off the strike after Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda accepted their demands. A key outcome of their meeting was an agreement to form a committee, including FORDA members, to work on the Central Protection Act to ensure healthcare workers’ safety.

However, doctors at AIIMS and other central government hospitals, along with the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), vowed to continue their protest until a central law is enacted to curb attacks on medical personnel. They emphasized that the strike would only end when their demands are fully met.

In West Bengal, the epicenter of the protest, junior doctors’ agitation severely impacted state healthcare services, bringing even emergency and outdoor departments to a standstill. Long queues of patients were seen at government hospital OPDs, with senior doctors stepping in to manage the rush.

In Maharashtra, resident doctors joined the strike, halting all elective services across hospitals while continuing emergency services. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court ordered the transfer of the case investigation from Kolkata Police to the CBI, expressing concerns over possible evidence tampering.

The unrest has spread to other states, including Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, and Rajasthan, where resident doctors have also gone on strike, affecting medical services. In Uttar Pradesh, protests continued for a second day at various medical colleges, while in Himachal Pradesh’s capital Shimla, patients were turned away from OPDs due to the strike.

Despite the CBI taking over the investigation, protests persisted as doctors and medical students across the country demanded justice for the victim and stronger security measures for healthcare workers. The Indian Medical Association (IMA) met with Health Minister Nadda, presenting demands that included declaring hospitals as safe zones and enacting a central law against violence in healthcare settings.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has also issued an advisory urging medical colleges and institutions to develop policies for ensuring a safe work environment on campuses.