The Indian Medical Association has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services from 6 am on Saturday to protest against the alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the subsequent vandalism at the facility. The medical body in a statement said that essential services will be maintained and casualty wards will remain operational. The IMA said that out-patient departments (OPD) will not function and elective surgeries will not be conducted.
The withdrawal is across all sectors wherever modern medicine doctors are providing services. The call for the nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency medical services was taken after a meeting with state branches of the IMA. The IMA has condemned the vandalism at the Kolkata hospital where doctors have been protesting since August 9 evening following the alleged rape and murder of the woman medic.
