Doctors call for major hospital shutdown in protest of Kolkata doctor's rape-murder case. Protests and strikes erupt nationwide.
Outrage over the brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata intensified on Friday, when doctors called for a major shutdown of hospital services.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the largest organisation of medical staffs in the country, has announced a nationwide strike starting Saturday morning, August 17. This strike, expected to be the largest in over a decade, will close most hospital departments.
The protests follows August 9 incident, when a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. This has sparked widespread demonstrations and strikes by the medical community across the nation.
What’s open and closed during nationwide doctors' strike?
Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide strike starting from 6am on Saturday, August 17, until 6am on Sunday, August 18.
• Expect most hospital departments to be closed during this weekend. Routine outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will remain shut.
• Essential services will remain operational. This includes emergency care and critical treatments, which will continue as usual.
• Casualty services will be available to handle any urgent medical needs that arise.
• The strike will affect all areas where modern medicine doctors work, including both public and private hospitals.
