The Union Health Ministry on Saturday sought to quell the nationwide strike by doctors protesting the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College by announcing the formation of a committee to propose safety measures for healthcare professionals.
The ministry assured that the committee would include input from all relevant stakeholders, including state governments, to address the concerns raised by the medical community.
The announcement came as doctors across India observed a 24-hour strike, suspending all health services except essential and emergency care, to demand justice for the victim and immediate reforms to protect healthcare workers from violence.
The protest highlighted the medical community's call for an overhaul of working and living conditions for resident doctors, as well as the implementation of a central law to ensure their safety.
In South Delhi, doctors, paramedics, and support staff staged a silent protest march, demanding swift justice for the trainee doctor and the introduction of stringent safety measures.
Union Health Ministry officials met with representatives from the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and Resident Doctors’ Associations from various governmental medical colleges and hospitals in Delhi.
During the meeting, the associations expressed their grave concerns about the safety and security of healthcare workers, urging the government to take decisive action.
In response, the Health Ministry reassured the representatives that the government is acutely aware of the challenges faced by healthcare workers and is committed to addressing them.
The Ministry noted that 26 states have already enacted legislation to safeguard healthcare professionals, reflecting the government's sensitivity to the issue.
An official statement from the Ministry requested the protesting doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest, particularly in light of the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria across the country.
"The Ministry requested the agitating doctors to resume their duties in the larger public interest and in view of the rising cases of Dengue and Malaria," reads the official statement.
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