Doctors suspend elective services at govt hospitals
Anshita Mehra
Tribune News Service
New Delhi, August 12
Patients visiting outpatient departments of Delhi Government hospitals had to return without consultation on Monday as doctors began an indefinite strike, demanding better safety measures and justice for a doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The strike, coordinated by the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association of India (FORDA), followed a call for support from all resident doctors’ associations and state medical associations.
At Ram Manohar Lohia (RML) Hospital in Delhi, resident doctors carried placards that read “Save Our Doctors, Save Our Future” and “Nahi Chahiye Ek Aur Nirbhaya”, while chanting “We want justice” to demand accountability and reform.
Dr Kumari Archana, a senior resident in the neurology department at RML, expressed her concerns to The Tribune, stating, “How will we work in such an environment where a doctor isn’t safe at his or her workplace? This isn’t just about a doctor; it’s about any woman who has to work under such conditions. How can we treat patients if we have this fear in our minds? Everyone should come together for justice.”
Dr Jasmine, another resident doctor at RML Hospital, said, “This incident happened to a female resident doctor within her hospital, where she spends more time than at her own home. It is basically her second home. The fact that this happened there makes me question where we have reached as a society. What kind of monsters would enter someone’s space, rape and murder them? And then, the principal asked why she was there so late at night. We’re assigned late shifts because there’s a shortage of doctors and the government isn’t providing enough infrastructure.”
She added, “After this case, I don’t feel safe at night. Even my mother called, asking me to be safe. But who should I be safe from? Should I just stay at home? We talk about women’s empowerment, but where is our society heading when women who are trying to empower themselves are being dragged down like this?”
Discussing the safety measures at RML, the doctor said, “At RML, there are guards and CCTV cameras. Initially, there were also bouncers for emergencies, but they were removed about a year ago for unknown reasons. However, RML is a tertiary care hospital, and we are also assigned to other hospitals. I was posted at Acharya Bhikshu Hospital, where there was barely one guard despite a crowd of 100 people.”
As the strike continued, doctors put forward several demands. One doctor stated, “We want a CBI inquiry because initially, the hospital administration and the police labelled the doctor as psychotic and depressed.
A CBI inquiry will ensure a thorough investigation. We also want the Central Protection Act, 2022, implemented, and we will
continue our strike until we get justice.”
Dr Aakash, a postgraduate resident in dermatology, said, “We seek a CBI inquiry as the initial response from the hospital and police was inadequate. We also demand the implementation of the Central Protection Act, 2022, and the resignation of the hospital administration during the investigation to prevent interference. If such crimes can happen to doctors, how can we ensure safety for everyone?”
‘Not safe at workplace’
How will we work in such an environment where a doctor isn’t safe at his or her workplace? This isn’t just about a doctor; it’s about any woman who has to work under such conditions. How can we treat patients if we have this fear in our minds? — Dr Kumari Archana, senior resident, RML hospital
‘Where has society reached’
This incident happened to a female doctor within her hospital, where she spends more time than at home. The fact that this happened there makes me question where we have reached as a society. — Dr Jasmine, resident doctor at RML Hospital
