IMA Declares 24-Hour Strike Demanding Hospitals To Be Declared 'Safe Zones' After Govt’s '6-Hour FIR' Order

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a 24-hour suspension of non-emergency medical services across India, beginning August 17th.

Doctors of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Science protest against the alleged rape and murder of a woman doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Patna, Friday, Aug. 16, 2024.

Source : PTI

Amid widespread protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for the implementation of a central law to designate hospitals as safe zones with mandatory security measures. In response, the IMA has announced a 24-hour suspension of services by all modern medicine doctors across the country, regardless of their sector or place of work.

It highlighted that emergency and casualty services will continue, but there will be no OPDs or elective surgeries. The suspension will begin at 6 am on Saturday, August 17, 2024, and will end at 6 am on Sunday, August 18, 2024.

Press Release dated 16.08.2024 pic.twitter.com/IMSIHe6WjQ

— Indian Medical Association (@IMAIndiaOrg) August 16, 2024

IMA chief Dr R V Asokan said every hospital across the country should be declared safe zones like airports so that doctors can work without any fear. Highlighting IMA's five demands, he said, "Airports are safe zones with a three-layer security, so at least in major hospitals, there has to be a security protocol and they should be declared as safe zones as that will entitle them for a mandatory security protocol."

Secondly, there must be a central law to check violence against healthcare workers, he added. Asokan stated that while 25 states have laws against attacks on doctors and hospitals, there have been no convictions to date. These laws are largely ineffective in practice and fail to act as a deterrent, he added, PTI reported.

"We request the government to reconsider introducing the draft Healthcare Service Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property) Bill, 2019, incorporating the amendments in the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 as approved and passed by Parliament in the Epidemic Diseases (Amendment) Act, 2020," Asokan said.

"One of our demands is that decent and dignified compensation should be provided to the victim's family, commensurate with the nature of the crime," Asokan said.

He also emphasised that the IMA demands a thorough investigation, timely prosecution, and suitable punishment for the offenders. The final demand from the doctors' association concerns the working hours and conditions of resident doctors, Asokan added.

Union Health Ministry Issues '6-Hour FIR' Order Over Violence Against Health Workers

The IMA statement comes after the Union Health Ministry issued directions on Friday for all government hospitals, both central and state, to file police complaints within 6 hours of any violence occurring on campus or against staff and health workers. The ministry issued a brief notice stating that the head of the concerned institution would be held accountable if no complaint is made within the specified time.

Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Atul Goel issued the office memorandum to directors and medical superintendents of central government hospitals, including AIIMS, as well as principals of all medical colleges nationwide.

The memo noted that violence against doctors and other healthcare staff in government hospitals has become increasingly common. "It is stated that in the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the Head of the institution shall be responsible for filing an institutional FIR within a maximum of six hours," the memo stated.

In the event of any violence against any healthcare worker while on duty, the Head of Institution shall be responsible for filing an Institutional FIR within a maximum of 6 hours of the incident: Ministry of Health and Family Welfare pic.twitter.com/2YGDZVRx8O

— ANI (@ANI) August 16, 2024

The office memorandum further noted that many health workers suffer physical violence or are threatened and subjected to verbal abuse while on duty, often by patients or their attendants.

This action comes amid widespread protests by doctors across India, demanding justice for the 31-year-old junior doctor who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last Friday.