S.O.S: IMA Warns 'Black Day' On April 23 If Govt Fails To Enact On Violence Against Healthcare Staff

The IMA stated these incidents are a White Alert for the medical fraternity. On reacting to it all the doctors and hospitals will light a candle at 9 pm on April 22 to mark the protest against incidents of violence.

Doctors offer flowers to patients who have recovered from COVID-19 during a nationwide lockdown. (Image: PTI)

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday said that it will observe ‘Black Day’ on April 23 if the government does not enact Central Law on violence against healthcare workers. Founded in 1928, IMA is a national voluntary organisation of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine in India, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the well being of the community at large. The IMA stated these incidents are a White Alert for the medical fraternity. On reacting to it all the doctors and hospitals will light a candle at 9 pm on April 22 to mark the protest against incidents of violence. The IMA said in a statement, “Our legitimate needs for safe workplaces have to be met. Abuse and violence should stop immediately. White Alert to the nation - All doctors and hospitals to light a candle at 9 pm on 22 April, as protest and vigil".

Our legitimate needs for safe workplaces have to be met. Abuse and violence should stop immediately. White Alert to the nation - All doctors and hospitals to light a candle at 9pm on 22 April, as protest and vigil: Indian Medical Association. #COVID19 pic.twitter.com/GYXByQcoWv

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2020

“If the govt fails to enact Central Law on violence against Doctors and Hospitals even after White Alert, IMA will declare Black Day on 23rd April. All doctors in the country will work with black badges,” it added. The statement came hours after the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in its letter to the states, made a strong exception to the incidents of violence against COVID-19 frontline healthcare professionals, saying that they needed to be stopped. There have been several incidents of attacks on healthcare workers and police by some people in different parts of the country, including Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, Karnataka leading to injuries to doctors, paramedics and police personnel. Last week, the Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has written a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, requesting him to implement the ‘Health Services Personnel and Clinical Establishments (Prohibition of Violence and Damage to Property), Bill’.