Doctors protest over Kolkata's RG Kar Medical student death case in parts of Madhya Pradesh

Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], August 13 : Groups of doctors held protests and strikes in parts of Madhya Pradesh on Tuesday against the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
The tragic incident occurred on August 9 and it led to widespread outrage and protests.
RDA (Resident Doctors Association) AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Bhopal went on a strike starting from today, with an indefinite suspension of elective services including OPDs, elective OTs, ward duties, and lab services.
"In light of this tragedy and in solidarity with our colleagues, we support the nationwide indefinite suspension of elective services (OPDs, Elective OTs, Ward duties and Lab Services) starting Tuesday, August 13. However, the Emergency Services will continue as usual," stated a letter issued by RDA AIIMS Bhopal.
Similarly, junior doctors held a protest outside Government Maharaja Yashwantrao Hospital in Indore district on Tuesday. Junior doctors working in all government hospitals in the district participated in the protest.
Junior Doctors Association (JDA) Indore President Dr Nayan Jain told ANI, "The incident which happened in West Bengal is very painful and condemnable. Our demand is that the Doctor Protection Act should be strengthened and implemented. Doctors should be given separate duty rooms for male and female. Security guards should be appointed there."
"Today we hold a strike over the Kolkata incident, under which junior doctors have stopped working. Senior doctors and consultants are looking after the patients and treatment is going on. Along with this, the emergency services are also on," he added.
On the other hand, a junior doctor Pragati Gautam said that their demand had always been that security should be provided to doctors but the government, hospital administration and police were not paying attention to it. As a result of which, incidents like Kolkata occurred.
"In MY Hospital also, male and female doctors are being assaulted. There are no security guards during our night duty. Male and female duty rooms and washrooms should be separate for doctors. When we return home after the duty at night, there is no street light. We have also submitted a memorandum to MGM Dean and Superintendent of MY Hospital about it," Gautam said.
The junior doctor further demanded that justice should be given to the victim of the Kolkata incident.
"The victim of the Kolkata incident should get justice. The Doctor Protection Act should be implemented on ground and not on paper. This protest will continue till our demands are not met," the doctor added.

Meanwhile, doctors at Jaya Arogya Hospital in Gwalior also expressed their protest and served their duty wearing black bands.
The doctors said that they were hurt by the Kolkata incident and wanted justice. The government should take strict steps towards their safety.
"Today we are working wearing black bands. There is a strike going on in several institutions in the country. There is a meeting of our doctors association this evening, a decision will be made in it and after that we may go on strike from tomorrow," the doctors said.
Earlier on Monday, doctors took a candle march in Gwalior as well as in Indore to protest against the sexual assault and murder of a woman post-graduate trainee (PGT) doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
On August 10, a group of doctors at AIIMS Bhopal also held a candlelight march to protest the death of the woman post-graduate trainee (PGT).