Surat: The rape and murder of a female trainee doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College has ignited nationwide protests, including in Gujarat. Today, interns, junior residents and senior resident doctors in several government hospitals across the state have gone on strike, refraining from OPD and ward services, though emergency services remain available.

At Surat’s New Civil Hospital, approximately 600 resident doctors are on strike, demanding justice. These doctors have withdrawn from non-emergency services, and the strike will continue until action and justice are ensured. While some OPDs at the hospital have opened, resident doctors have yet to report for duty, resulting in long queues of patients waiting outside.

Rajkot JDA President Sandeep Sharma stated that justice has not yet been served to the victim’s family in the Kolkata incident. Following the association’s instructions, resident doctors in Rajkot have also joined the protest. The indefinite strike began today and will continue until justice is delivered, although emergency services will remain operational to minimize patient inconvenience. Around 300 resident doctors are protesting at the premises of PDU Medical College in the city, dressed in black and holding placards.

In Ahmedabad, interns, junior, and senior residents have decided to refrain from all non-emergency services, including OPD and ward duties, starting today. They are demanding strict action from the authorities in response to the recent mob attack on resident doctors who were protesting against the rape of the female PG trainee in Kolkata. At B.J. Medical College, out of 1,500 students, 750 are on strike, while the remaining 750 are providing emergency services to ensure that patients do not suffer. However, all OPD and ward services will be closed today.

Meanwhile, at Sayaji Hospital in Vadodara, doctors working in 18 OPDs have halted all services except emergency care, gathering in front of the medical college to protest. Doctors in government hospitals across Gujarat are united in their support of the strike, vowing to continue until all demands of the West Bengal Doctors Association are met. Approximately 400 doctors at Sayaji Hospital have joined the strike today.

In another incident, doctors at Junagadh Civil Hospital are also on strike after a family member of a patient attacked the doctors on Thursday. The patient was referred to Junagadh Civil Hospital but passed away during treatment. However, the patient’s relatives alleged that he died due to the negligence of the doctors and attacked the staff, injuring a doctor and two nurses. Following this, the doctors are on strike, demanding a police complaint against the relatives of the patient. The police arrived at the scene, checked the CCTV footage, and further investigation is ongoing.

In a related development, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide withdrawal of services. In an official statement, the IMA said, “Subsequent to the brutal crime at R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata, and the hooliganism unleashed on the protesting students on the eve of Independence Day, the Indian Medical Association declares a nationwide withdrawal of services by doctors of modern medicine from 6 am on Saturday, August 17, 2024, to 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024, for 24 hours. All essential services will be maintained. Casualties will be manned. Routine OPDs will not function, and elective surgeries will not be conducted. The withdrawal is across all sectors where modern medicine doctors provide services. The IMA seeks the nation’s sympathy for the just cause of its doctors.” DeshGujarat