The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has declared a 24-hour nationwide suspension of non-emergency services, beginning at 6 am on Saturday, in response to the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The protest also addresses the subsequent vandalism at the hospital.
In a statement, the IMA emphasized that essential services, including casualty wards, will remain operational, but outpatient departments (OPD) will be closed, and elective surgeries will be suspended.
This withdrawal of services applies to all sectors where modern medicine doctors are practicing. The decision follows consultations with the IMA’s state branches and comes amid ongoing protests by doctors in Kolkata since the incident on August 9. The IMA strongly condemned the acts of vandalism at the hospital.
