Patna, August 16, 2024: In a powerful display of solidarity, almost all government medical colleges in Bihar were completely shut down on August 16, 2024, in protest against the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College in Kolkata. This unprecedented shutdown, which included the closure of all Outpatient Departments (OPD) and emergency services, sent a strong message to the West Bengal government, the police, and the central government, demanding strict laws and a safe working environment for doctors across the nation.
The shutdown affected major medical institutions in Bihar, including Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH), Government Medical College Bettiah (GMCB), Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and Hospital (JLNMCH), Vardhman Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), JNKTMCH & ANMCH. These institutions came to a complete halt, demonstrating the medical fraternity’s serious concern over the growing violence against healthcare professionals.
In addition to the government colleges, AIIMS Patna, ESIC Bihta, MMCH, and RDJM also held protests and candlelight marches to show their solidarity with the doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College. These peaceful demonstrations were a call to action for the authorities to ensure the safety and security of those who dedicate their lives to saving others.
IMA MSN Bihar’s Call for Statewide Strike
The Indian Medical Association’s Medical Students Network (IMA MSN) Bihar has further escalated the protest by calling for a statewide strike on August 17, 2024. This strike, which includes the suspension of emergency services, is a clear signal of the seriousness with which the medical community is taking this issue. Tanmay Kunj, the co-convenor of IMA MSN Bihar, stated, “We will continue the protest until the government ensures proper safety guidelines for the medical fraternity. IMA MSN Bihar stands strong in solidarity with the doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College.”
The protests across Bihar reflect a growing concern among medical professionals about the lack of safety in their workplaces. The incident at R.G. Kar Medical College has sparked nationwide outrage, leading to demands for stricter laws to protect doctors and other healthcare workers from violence and harassment.
A Call for Government Action
The protests are not just a reaction to a single tragic event but a broader call for systemic change. The medical community is urging the government to take immediate and decisive action to implement stringent safety protocols and legal protections for healthcare workers. The demand for justice for the slain doctor in Kolkata has become a rallying point for the entire medical fraternity, highlighting the urgent need for reform.
As Bihar’s medical community stands united, the message to the authorities is clear: doctors must be protected, and justice must be served. The protests will continue until concrete steps are taken to ensure that healthcare professionals can work in a safe and secure environment, free from the fear of violence and intimidation.
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