Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], October 13 (ANI): The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) has announced a nationwide boycott of elective medical services starting October 14, 2024, in solidarity with their West Bengal colleagues as part of the doctors protest against rape and murder of a second year old trainee doctor at RG Kar medical college.
The protest follows over 65 days of demonstrations advocating for safer working conditions and highlights the West Bengal government's neglect of doctors currently on an indefinite hunger strike for the past week.
The organization is calling on medical associations and resident doctors nationwide to join the boycott.
In solidarity with our West Bengal colleagues, who have protested over 65 days for safer work conditions, and to protest against the apathy shown by the West Bengal government towards our colleagues on indefinite hunger strike for a week, as well as the ever increasing violence on doctors and healthcare professionals, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) calls upon all medical associations and resident doctors nationwide to initiate a boycott of elective services from October 14th, 2024, FAIMA stated in an official release.
We demand action and safety for all healthcare professionals in West Bengal and throughout the country, the release stated.
Earlier, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar urged BJP workers and people of West Bengal to join doctors' protest in large numbers.
He said that the West Bengal government had promised to fulfill doctors' demands during the meeting with the Chief Minister but have rescinded on it, since.
In a press release, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said, "The West Bengal BJP extends its full support to the Junior Doctor's Front in their agitation against the Mamata Banerjee Govt. The demands made by protesting doctors, in the aftermath of the gruesome rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, is legitimate, and must be fulfilled. West Bengal Govt had promised to meet doctors' demands during the meeting with the Chief Minister but have rescinded on it, since."
He further appealed the BJP workers and people of West Bengal to join the doctors' protest.
"I encourage all BJP Karyakartas to join the doctors' protest in large numbers. I also urge the people of West Bengal to be a part of this movement and get heard. We have to protect our doctors and save Bengal from the dark forces, which are helming the affairs of the State at the moment," he added.
Around 50 senior doctors and faculty members of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata resigned in solidarity with their junior colleagues, who are on a hunger strike protesting the rape and murder of a trainee doctor on the institution's premises in August this year, the FAIMA said. (ANI)
