Coimbatore: Indian Medical Association (IMA) will observe a nation-wide protest day on violence against doctors on Friday, 14th June 2019. Following increasing incidences of violence against doctors in healthcare establishments, IMA has moved into agitation mode.
Coimbatore: Indian Medical Association (IMA) will observe a nation-wide protest day on violence against doctors on Friday, 14th June 2019. Following increasing incidences of violence against doctors in healthcare establishments, IMA has moved into agitation mode.
As part of the protest all doctors in the country will wear black badges on June 14, Friday. Dharna / protest meetings will be organized by the state units of IMA at respective state and district headquarters. An appeal for the central law against hospital violence will be e-mailed to the Prime Minister and the Central Home Minister by all the 2500 local branches of IMA. Medical students and junior doctors will also participate in the protest.
In a recent incident in West Bengal, Dr. Paribha Mukherjee, a young doctor was brutally attacked by a violent mob at NRS Medical College, Kolkata. He is critical and fighting for his life. IMA has been demanding a pass a Law against hospital violence. The organization has declared a zero-tolerance policy against violence on doctors in healthcare establishments. "National Law against violence on hospitals has to be passed on priority. The law should provide a minimum of seven years imprisonment for those who indulge in such violence. To ensure that the cases are registered, culprits are arrested and conviction is necessitated, appropriate mandatory provisions as provided in the POCSO act has to be instituted", said a release from IMA.
The doctors have urged that hospitals should be declared as special zones and provision of appropriate security should be the responsibility of the state. "It has been observed that the increase in violence will adversely affect the public health at large. Institutions will be reluctant to take up complicated and risky patients which will affect public health at large. Threat of violence increases the stress levels of health care workers. Sound judgment regarding patient care will be compromised in such situations", the release said.
IMA in its statement strongly condemned the brutal violence at NRS medical college and announced that the entire medical fraternity has expressed solidarity to the seriously injured doctors. IMA stated that the organisation is ready for an agitation to press strong legislation and strict action against hospital violence. In regard to this Indian medical association is conducting agitation in front of dean office.