Gujarat: IMA protests over Kolkata assault continue

AHMEDABAD: Doctors affiliated with the Indian Medical Association, Gujarat state branch (IMA-GSB), continued their protests against the assault on three doctors and a medical student at a Kolkata hospital by a the kin of a deceased patient. Protests continued in the form of dharna, wearing of black badges and peaceful marches across medical colleges across the state, according to IMA-GSB.
IMA has called for a nationwide withdrawal of all non-essential services including outside patient department services (OPDs) from 6am Monday to 6am on Tuesday.While doctors across Gujarat plan to join the strike, deputy CM Nitin Patel appealed to doctors not to take such a step in the interest of patients.
“The attack on doctors in West Bengal is unfortunate. I appeal to doctors to not go on strike on June 17 in the interest of patients. Especially in emergencies, patients should not have to suffer. We assure them we will present the sentiments of doctors in Gujarat before the Union government and the West Bengal government,” said Patel.
In the wake of the incident, IMA-GSB members also sought for a national law against hospital violence and a zero-tolerance policy for violence against doctors. Some 700 doctors in Ahmedabad participated in a demonstration organized by IMA-GSB, to condemn the incident, on Friday as well. A memorandum was submitted by members of the medical fraternity in Ahmedabad to the district collector.