Kolkata: All hospital services in India except for emergency care will remain shut today as doctors escalate their protest over the rape and murder of a colleague by calling for a nationwide strike.
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.
Kolkata Rape Protest: What’s Open and What’s Closed?
The IMA has clarified that while the strike is a call for the withdrawal of non-essential services, emergency care and critical treatments will continue as usual. This means that:
Emergency Departments: These will remain operational throughout the strike to handle urgent medical cases.
Casualty Services: Hospitals will maintain casualty services to attend to patients requiring immediate medical attention.
Critical Care Units: Patients in intensive care units and those on life support will continue to receive necessary care.
On-Call Doctors: Doctors on call for emergencies will be available to provide medical assistance.
However, routine services will be significantly affected:
Outpatient Departments (OPDs): Most OPDs will remain closed during the strike. Patients with appointments should reschedule their visits.
Elective Surgeries: Non-emergency surgeries will be postponed.
Other Non-Essential Services: Routine check-ups, vaccinations, and other non-urgent medical procedures will be affected.
Impact on Patients
The strike is expected to cause inconvenience to patients seeking non-emergency medical care. It’s advisable to postpone routine check-ups and elective surgeries if possible. However, patients with urgent medical needs should not hesitate to seek immediate care.
The IMA has emphasized that the strike is a measure of protest and not a disregard for patient care. The association has urged patients to cooperate during this difficult time.
The Reclaim Night: Women Takes To Street To Protest Against Rape and Murder Case
Tens of thousands of women in West Bengal state marched through the streets on Wednesday night in protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata last week.
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The Reclaim the Night march was the culmination of nearly a week of frenzied protests ignited by the brutal killing of the 31-year-old at the RG Kar Medical College last Friday.
