The doctors' protest that started in Kolkata has now spread to Delhi, Mumbai and other cities in India.
The Indian Medical Association has called for a nationwide strike protesting the attack on a doctor in Kolkata.
Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad have called for a statewide protest against the recent assault on Kolkata resident doctors. The Bengal doctors have been on a strike since Tuesday, after a junior doctor was assaulted at a government-run hospital in Kolkata by the relatives of a patient who died.
The "Emergency services will function normally as the resident doctors will purportedly continue to work in the emergency services as per their scheduled duties," said AIIMS medical superintendent DK Sharma.
The junior doctors' strike, has hit services in the state's government-run hospitals. Over the last four days, services have been affected in emergency wards, outdoor facilities and pathological units of many state-run hospitals and a number of private medical facilities. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday asked agitating junior doctors across the state to resume work within four hours and warned them of action if the order is not followed. She directed police to vacate hospital premises, asserting that no one other than the patients should be allowed on the campus.
Here are the highlights of the Doctor's protest across India:
Mamata Banerjee invites agitating doctors for meeting at state secretariat to resolve impasse, doctors refuse.
West Bengal Governor, Keshari Nath Tripathi: I have tried to contact the CM, I have called her, till this moment there is no response from her, if she calls on me then we will discuss the matter. I have called her, let her come.
Bengal doctors' strike- Here are 10 latest developments in this big story:- "Instead of taking action against the attackers, she (Mamata Banerjee) gave the doctors an ultimatum, warned and threatened them because of which doctors of West Bengal and across the country are angry," Minister Harsh Vardhan said, also requesting the doctors to end their strike.
- The doctors in Bengal have set six conditions including an unconditional apology from Ms Banerjee and action against those who assaulted their colleagues to withdraw their protest, news agency PTI reported.
- Around 300 doctors, including the heads of departments of medical colleges and other hospitals in Kolkata, Burdwan, Darjeeling and North 24 Parganas districts, sent their resignation letters to the state director of medical education.
- Ms Banerjee, whose get-back-to-work deadline of 2 pm yesterday was emphatically ignored, once again attacked "outsiders" for the doctors' protest. A delegation of senior doctors met with the Chief Minister in Kolkata.
- The Indian Medical Association (IMA), the country's leading doctors' body, launched a four-day nationwide protest from Friday and called a strike on Monday. Calling the attack on doctors "barbaric", the IMA said it will ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to bring out a central law against such violence.
- Doctors from across India organised demonstrations and skipped work in solidarity with their colleagues from West Bengal. Bengal was the worst hit by the strike with at least 13 big government hospitals affected.
- In the national capital, resident doctors at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and Safdarjung Hospital stayed away from work. Medical services in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru were also affected by protests.
- Doctors in Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Telangana, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Assam, Tripura, Goa and Chandigarh took out demonstrations.
- The Supreme Court agreed to hear a public interest litigation or PIL over the safety and security of doctors in government hospitals across the country. Hearing a similar case, the Calcutta High Court asked the West Bengal government to end the impasse and respond to the petition in seven days.
- The protests were sparked by an attack at the NRS Medical College in Kolkata on Monday that left two junior doctors seriously injured after a dispute with a family whose relative had died.
Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has sent a letter to Mamata Banerjee:
Senior doctors Sukumar Mukherjee, Makhan Lal Saha, Avhijit Choudhury, Alakendu Ghosh along with Nirmal Majhi reach State Secretariat Nabanna to meet Mamata Banerjee to try and resolve the issue of junior doctor's strike.
300 doctors have tendered their resignation in government-run hospitals in Bengal.
Calcutta High Court gives 7 days to West Bengal govt to respond while hearing a PIL on doctors' strike in the state. Court asked state what steps were taken by the govt to end the impasse. Court also said that state will have to put an end to this & find a solution, reports news agency ANI.
Bengal Education Minister Appeals To Junior Doctors To Withdraw Strike
Senior Trinamool Congress leader West Bengal Education minister Partha Chatterjee appealed to striking junior doctors to "keep aside" misunderstandings and withdraw their agitation, which entered its fourth day on Friday.
In a Facebook post, Mr Chatterjee, the TMC secretary general, said that all their grievances can be solved through discussions with the government.
"I would like to appeal to my young friends to keep aside misunderstandings and join back at work. We should not lose faith on masses. I too have been involved in student politics and now after being appointed in a position, still believe that all of us should work towards serving the masses.
"Just like you need security, patients also need treatment. I would appeal to all of you to think over it," he said.
Doctor Strike: Government Blames Mamata Banerjee As Doctors' Protest Spreads - 10 PointsDoctors across the country will boycott work on Monday to express solidarity with their Bengal counterparts whose strike to protest the attack on an intern at a government-run hospital in Kolkata entered its fourth day. Junior doctors in several states boycotted work today affecting medical services. Blaming the Mamata Banerjee government for the doctors' strike in Bengal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan appealed to her to "not make it a prestige issue". He also assured doctors across the country that the government is "committed to ensuring their safety". Meanwhile, the striking doctors have said they want an unconditional apology from Ms Banerjee to withdraw their protest, according to news agency PTI."
BREAKING: Indian Medical Association to hold nationwide strike on June 17.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said We have to bring Bengal forward. When I go to Bihar, UP, Pujnab, I speak in their language, if you are in Bengal you have to speak Bangla. I will not tolerate criminals who stay in Bengal and roam around on bikes.
Calcutta High Court refuses to pass interim order on strike by junior doctors in state-run hospitals, asks West Bengal government to persuade them to rejoin work.
16 doctors of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital Resigned
West Bengal: 16 doctors of the RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, Kolkata submit their resignation stating, "In response to prevailing situation as we are unable to provide service, we would like to resign from our duty,"
Health Minister Meets Doctors
The Resident Doctors' Association of AIIMS meets Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan over violence against doctors in West Bengal.
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan today blamed Mamata Banerjee for the nationwide protests by doctors against the attack on a junior doctor in West Bengal earlier this week. Doctors in several cities across the country are staying away from work today to show support to their colleagues in West Bengal who have been on a strike since Tuesday. "I appeal with folded hands to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to not make this an issue of prestige. Instead of taking action against the attackers(of the doctor), she(Mamata Banerjee) gave the doctors an ultimatum, warned and threatened them because of which doctors of West Bengal and across the country are angry," Harsh Vardhan said. He urged the doctors to hold only symbolic protests so that the health services are not disrupted.
Doctors' Demands From Health Minister Dr Harsh VardhanRedefine the laws for Doctor Protection Act or Create a new one as Anti- Hospital violence Act defining strictly. "Assualt to doctor", should be an unbailable offense. Mob lynching to doctors ; laws to be redefined, Punishment should be grave. Right to Blacklist assailant's whole family from health care. Central Government to make out a strict plan of action for tightening Health care delivery system for safe working environment, rather then focusing only on Global health policies, focus on health care providers needs first.
Doctors Protesting Across India
Doctors in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jaipur Thiruvananthapuram and other cities staged protests. Doctors at Delhi's All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were seen wearing helmets and bandages as they attended to patients.
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Resident Doctors at Raipur's Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital raise slogans of 'We Want Justice' as they protest over violence against doctors in West Bengal.
Doctors' Refuses Mamata Banerjee's UltimatumDuring a visit to a state-run hospital in Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee warned doctors who won't return to work. Doctors who don't return to work must leave the hostel, she said. "They are outsiders. The government will not support them in any way," she said. "I condemn doctors who have gone on strike. Policemen die in line of duty but the police don't go on a strike," she added. She has accused the BJP and the CPM of engineering the strike and playing "Hindu-Muslim politics".
The doctors are protesting after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata by a mob following the death of a patient.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), on the other hand, directed members of its state branches to stage protests and wear black badges in solidarity with West Bengal doctors tomorrow. It will also ask Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to bring out a central law against such violence.
Pan India StrikeHealthcare services spreads across India; services in Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad Hit. "Emergency services will function normally as the resident doctors will purportedly continue to work in the emergency services as per their scheduled duties," AIIMS medical superintendent DK Sharma said in a statement. He said inpatent wards, labour and maternity care faciltiies will function normally. The outpatient department and diagnostic services will largely remain suspended today.
Attack on Doctors Junior doctors in West Bengal are on a strike since Tuesday after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Demanding security in government hospitals, the striking junior doctors refused to end their stir.