By Hospitals and clinics across India turned away non-emergency patients Saturday as more than one million doctors joined a 24-hour strike to protest the rape and murder of a colleague in Kolkata, paralysing medical services in the world’s most populous nation.
The shutdown, which began at 6 a.m. local time, was called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in response to the killing of a 31-year-old trainee doctor inside a medical college in Kolkata last week. The incident has drawn parallels to the notorious 2012 gang rape and murder of a student in New Delhi.
“Junior doctors have all been on strike, so this would mean 90% of doctors are on strike,” said Sanjeev Singh Yadav, an IMA representative in Telangana state.
The strike has cut off access to elective medical procedures and out-patient consultations nationwide. Hospitals reported that faculty staff from medical colleges were handling emergency cases.
Outside the RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata, where the crime occurred, a heavy police presence was observed while the hospital premises were deserted, according to local news agency ANI.
In Kolkata, many private clinics and diagnostic centers remained closed. Dr. Sandip Saha, a private pediatrician in the city, said he would only attend to emergency cases.
The strike’s impact was felt across the country. In Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, major hospitals reported significant disruptions to routine services. Ahmedabad, Gujarat saw most private clinics shut down for the day. Hospitals in Guwahati, Assam turned away non-critical patients. Chennai, Tamil Nadu reported long queues at emergency wards as regular services were suspended.
Many patients were caught unaware by the strike. At SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack, Odisha, an unidentified patient told local television, “I have spent 500 rupees ($6) on travel to come here. I have paralysis and a burning sensation in my feet, head and other parts of my body. We were not aware of the strike. What can we do? We have to return home.”
The government, in a statement issued Saturday after meeting with medical association representatives, urged doctors to return to duty in the public interest. It also announced the formation of a committee to suggest measures to improve protection for healthcare professionals.
India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is investigating the Kolkata incident. The agency has summoned several medical students from RG Kar college and questioned the hospital’s principal, according to a Kolkata police source. One suspect is reportedly in CBI custody.
The IMA has called for harsher legal measures to protect healthcare workers from violence and demanded swift investigation of the Kolkata crime.
“Women form the majority of our profession in this country. Time and again, we have asked for safety for them,” IMA President R.V. Asokan said Friday.
The strike highlights ongoing concerns about violence against women in India, despite tougher laws introduced after the 2012 Delhi gang-rape case. Women’s rights activists and legal experts are calling for faster investigations and harsher punishments to deter such crimes.
As the strike continues, hospitals across India are struggling to maintain essential services, with the healthcare system facing one of its largest shutdowns in recent memory.
Reuters
