Shruti Suman
New Delhi: In response to nationwide outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of Delhi AIIMS announced on Sunday that they, along with doctors from other Delhi hospitals, will be providing free OPD services on the road in front of the Health Ministry at Nirman Bhawan starting August 19. This initiative will continue until doctors are assured of adequate security in hospitals through the implementation of a Central Protection Act.
The doctors’ strike in the national capital entered its seventh day on Sunday, severely disrupting non-emergency services, including OPD operations. The agitation, which began on Monday in Delhi, initially took place within medical college campuses but escalated to street protests on Friday following the incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata earlier this month.
As part of their action plan, members of the resident doctors’ associations in Delhi organized a candlelight march from Gate 1 of Rajiv Chowk Metro Station at Connaught Place.
Dr. Parth Mishra, Vice President of the UCMS and GTB Hospital RDA, told PTI that resident doctors from various medical institutions participated in the march. The demonstrators, demanding a central law to prevent violence against on-duty healthcare personnel and seeking justice for their colleague, formed a human chain in Connaught Place’s Inner Circle.
Efforts were also made to engage with the public to raise awareness about the incident.
Participants in the march, which concluded around 9 PM, chanted slogans in support of their demands and displayed placards calling for justice for the victim. One of the placards read, “When the white coat turns red, society turns black.” A few children holding the tricolor were also seen participating in the march.
Late Sunday, the resident doctors announced that their strike would continue. According to a joint statement by RDAs, a meeting is scheduled for 9 AM on Monday in front of GTB Hospital’s gate. Following the meeting, the doctors plan to proceed to Nirman Bhawan at 11 AM.
NI Bureau
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