In response to the heinous rape and murder of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services starting from 6 AM on August 17, 2024.
While non-emergency services will be halted, essential services like emergency care and casualty wards will continue to operate, ensuring critical patient care is not compromised.
The decision comes as a wave of protests and demands for justice sweep across the medical community in India, highlighting the urgent need for safety measures for healthcare workers.
The incident, which has shocked the nation, involved the discovery of the body of a 31-year-old resident doctor in a seminar hall of the medical college, bearing signs of sexual assault and multiple injuries. The brutality of the crime, coupled with initial delays in investigation and subsequent vandalism at the hospital, has fueled widespread anger and calls for immediate action.
Following the horrific incident, unidentified miscreants vandalized parts of the hospital, an act that further escalated tensions and highlighted security lapses.
The case has been transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from Kolkata Police, following orders from the Calcutta High Court, indicating a recognition of the gravity of the situation and the need for a thorough, unbiased investigation.