Resident doctors across Maharashtra launched an indefinite strike on Tuesday morning, joining nationwide protests sparked by the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The strike has resulted in the suspension of all elective services in hospitals throughout the state, though emergency services continue to operate without disruption.
“From 9 am, we have stopped work at all OPDs, and elective services have been halted. Now, only emergency services are operational across the state,” stated Dr. Pratik Debaje, President of the Maharashtra State Association of Residential Doctors (MARD), in a statement to PTI.
The horrifying incident in Kolkata, where the body of the postgraduate trainee was discovered in a seminar hall on Friday morning, has sent shockwaves through the medical community. The victim was allegedly raped and murdered, and a civic volunteer was arrested on Saturday in connection with the crime. This incident has ignited widespread protests, with junior doctors and healthcare workers expressing deep concern over their safety and demanding immediate action.
In response, the Central MARD has called for an impartial and transparent investigation into the Kolkata incident. Their demands also include the rapid formation of an expert committee to implement the Central Healthcare Protection Act, improved security measures in medical facilities—including fully functional CCTV systems and well-equipped security personnel—along with better living conditions for resident doctors, such as quality hostels and proper on-call rooms.
In a statement released on Monday, the resident doctors’ association emphasized that the decision to strike was not taken lightly but was deemed necessary to ensure their demands were met. They also urged local MARD units across Maharashtra to participate in the ongoing protests.
The strike in Maharashtra is part of a broader movement that began on Monday, when resident doctors in government hospitals across several regions of India went on an indefinite strike. The protests, which have paralyzed services like OPDs and non-emergency surgeries, were initiated in response to a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA). The association made it clear that the strike will continue until justice is served and their demands are fulfilled.
Following a meeting with officials from the Union health ministry on Monday, which failed to produce a resolution, FORDA announced an extension of its indefinite strike.
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