IMA condemns attack on Kolkata doc

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, June 13

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) will observe a nationwide protest against attacks on doctors on Friday.

Dr Rajesh Dhir, president, IMA, Chandigarh, said the organisation had moved into agitation mode following increasing incidences of violence against doctors and healthcare establishments.

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.

He said the IMA had been demanding a law against hospital violence. The organisation has declared a zero-tolerance policy against violence on doctors and healthcare establishments. The World Medical Association had also passed a resolution against violence on healthcare establishments and urged to bring stronger legislation against this menace.

“National law against violence in hospitals has to be brought in urgently. The law should provide a minimum of seven-year imprisonment for hospital violence. To ensure that the cases are registered, culprits are arrested and conviction is necessitated and appropriate mandatory provisions as provided in the POCSO Act has to be instituted. Hospitals should be declared as special zones and provision of appropriate security should be the responsibility of the state,” he demanded.

It has been observed that the increase in violence would adversely affect the public health at large. Not only patients undergoing treatment in the institution facing violence would be directly affected but also there are a lot of indirect consequences, he said.

Institutions would be reluctant to take up complicated and risky patients that would affect public health at large. Threat of violence increases the stress level of healthcare workers. Sound judgment regarding patient care would be compromised in such situations.

As part of the protest, all doctors will wear black badges on Friday. A protest meeting will be organised by the state unit of the IMA office. An appeal for the Central law against hospital violence will be made to the Prime Minister and the Union Home Minister by all 2,500 local branches of the IMA. Medical students and junior doctors would also participate in the protest.

In a statement, the IMA strongly condemned the brutal violence at NRS Medical College and announced that the entire medical fraternity has expressed solidarity with the seriously injured doctor.