• Source:JND
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IMA Strike Today: Indian Medical Association, the largest body of medical professionals in the country, has called for a nationwide doctors' strike from Saturday, August 17, against the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. Deemed to be the largest such protest by medical professionals in the last 10 years, the IMA strike is set to affect various medical services across the country.

The IMA strike started at 6 AM today, August 17, and will continue till 6 AM on June 18. The 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services by the doctors will impact the functioning of the hospitals as well as the patients.

Here's What's Closed During IMA Strike:

1. Most of the departments of hospitals across the country will remain closed. Outpatient departments (OPDs) and elective surgeries will remain suspended during the period of the strike.

2. The strike is expected to impact all government and non-government hospitals across the country.

3. Consultation services will remain suspended as the other non-essential medical services during these 24 hours.

Here's What Opened During IMA Strike

1. Emergency services will not be impacted by the IMA strike. Casualty cases and serious patients will be treated as usual.

2. The necessary surgeries will go forward as planned. The critical treatments and emergency care would continue as usual.

3. Casualty services will be available to handle any urgent medical needs that arise.

These are the demands of protesting doctors:

1. At the policy level the reluctance to acknowledge the violence on doctors and hospitals has to change. A Central Act incorporating the amendments of 2023 in the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897 into the draft Hospital Protection Bill of 2019 would strengthen the existing 25 state legislations. An Ordinance as in during the covid pandemic is in order.

2. The security protocols of all hospitals should be no less than an airport. Declaring the hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security entitlements is the first step. CCTVs, deployment of security personnel and the protocols can follow.

3. The 36 hours of duty shift that the victim was in and the lack of safe spaces to rest and adequate restrooms warrant a thorough overhaul of the working and living conditions of the resident doctors.

4. Meticulous and professional investigation of the crime in a timeframe and rendering of justice.

5. Identify the hooligans of vandalism and award exemplary punishment. Appropriate and dignified compensation.

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