Doctors’ strike

THE doctors’ strike, triggered by the shocking rape and murder case in Kolkata, highlights deep-seated issues in our healthcare system. While the outrage is understandable and the demand for justice justified, the impact of this strike on patients, especially the poor, is profoundly concerning. The healthcare system in our country is already plagued by inadequate facilities and overburdened services. Forcing vulnerable patients to bear the brunt of this protest is neither fair nor humane.

The medical community’s demand for security is critical and should not be dismissed. Doctors are rightly concerned about the dangers they face while performing their duties. However, there are more balanced ways to express these grievances without compromising patient care. Wearing black badges or organising rotational strikes could be effective alternatives that would allow doctors to voice their concerns while ensuring that essential services remain available. The Madhya Pradesh High Court has emphasised the importance of maintaining healthcare services during strikes, highlighting the legal and moral responsibility of medical professionals to their patients.

The government needs to address the root causes of the doctors’ dissatisfaction by ensuring their safety through adequate funding and infrastructure improvements, such as providing more CCTV cameras and security personnel in medical institutions. In a country where healthcare access is already a challenge, the strike only exacerbates the suffering of those who can least afford it. The lack of political will to improve healthcare services is evident. The government must act swiftly to resolve this crisis so that justice is delivered speedily. Balancing the doctors’ legitimate concerns with the fundamental right to healthcare is not just a necessity, but it is also a moral imperative.