Kolkata rape and murder: Padma awardee doctors seek new law; Telangana docs to continue strike

Hyderabad: The shock of the brutal rape and murder of the 31-year-old resident doctor in R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata continues to resonate across the country. Doctors, healthcare workers, dentists, veterinary doctors, political parties, and civil society continue to express their anguish over the barbaric act through various modes of dissent.

Elective surgeries and outpatient services are affected in several states, even as doctors and healthcare workers continue to demand a stringent central protection law against violence in the workplace and the implementation of existing laws.

The demands of a Central Protection Act (CPA), the announcement of hospitals as safe zones and the establishment of mechanisms to constitute a grievance cell at the national level remain elusive despite several attacks on healthcare workers in recent years.

Padma awardees demand separate legislation

In a major boost to the protesting medical fraternity, 71 Padma awardee doctors have written to the prime minister seeking the enactment and implementation of a special law for the protection of healthcare workers,

“Prevention of Violence against Doctors, Medical Professionals, and Medical Institutions Bill has been ready since 2019, but has not been tabled in the Parliament for passage and adoption”, the letter mentioned.

The Padma awardees also demanded the harshest punishment for violence against healthcare workers, and enhanced security measures in hospitals and medical institutions to ensure the safety of the healthcare professionals, particularly women.

Ensure adequate security of government hospitals

The safety of the government, private medical colleges, and hospitals remains the focal point of the protests across the country.

Dr Arjun Raj, vice president of the Hyderabad chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) said, “We are celebrating our 78th independence and even now women and doctors are not safe in our country. The concerned governments should ensure speedy justice to the victim by taking stringent action against the culprits.”

Lack of adequate security personnel and infrastructural facilities are considered to be the reason for the recent incident in Kolkata.

“The hospitals should be announced as safe zones and a special protection force should be constituted to ensure the safety in hospitals and medical colleges. The violence against women doctors and healthcare workers should not be tolerated at any cost”, Dr Arjun Raj said.

The IMA Junior Doctors Network has also demanded stringent safety measures in the hospitals with mandatory security entitlements, CCTVs, and deployment of security personnel.

The action council for CPA has reiterated its demand for an immediate ordinance, legislation in parliament, deployment of paramilitary forces and nationwide security measures, and financial compensation for the family of the victim.

Redressal mechanism inadequate

Directorate General of Health Services has issued an office memorandum directing the heads of all the medical colleges and institutes to file an institutional FIR within 6 hours of any incidents of violence against any healthcare workers.

“Despite so many incidents of violence against healthcare workers and filing of FIRs, most of the cases are compromised out of the court. In most cases, the police themselves encourage people to withdraw their complaints. This should not be permitted to happen”, Dr Arjun Raj said.

The lack of a grievance redressal system with the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other apex bodies is also being raised by the protesting medical fraternity.

“The responsible organizations, including the central government should form a grievance cell to coordinate with the corresponding state governments. There should be an email address and application for registering the grievances while a special wing for the same should be formed”, Dr Arjun Raj added.

Protests continue in various forms

Telangana Teaching Government Doctors Association (TTGDA) has announced to continue with the black badge protest, the Andhra Pradesh Government Doctors Association (APGDA) and Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) have announced to boycott elective surgeries and outpatient services.

The NIMS Resident Doctors Association (RDA) also has decided to continue with the indefinite strike.