Indian Medical Association’s officiating members from Haridwar district joined the IMA Bharat Yatra as part of the protest against National Medical Commission Bill on Sunday.

The cycling rally began from Bhagat Singh Chowk and traversed through major crossings of the city.

The national president of IMA Dr Ravi Wankhedkar has been on the cycling stir, pedalling across the country which would end in Delhi on March 25 when a mega congregation of the doctors would be held.

Notably, Wankhedkar who is an eminent surgeon had started the nation-wide ‘IMA Bharat Yatra’ on February 25 from Kanyakumari. With the cycle stir covering the length and breadth of the country to connect with the society at large and consolidate the medical fraternity behind the issue, the IMA Yatra reached Haridwar on Sunday.

Speaking of the cycling stir, secretary, Indian Medical Association Haridwar chapter Dr Anjul Shrimali said, “There are issues which are affecting the medical fraternity and inappropriate responses from the Government is affecting the health of the people. Doctor-patient relationship is on low ebb and a trust deficit exists between today’s doctors and their patients which is unfortunate for all.”

One of the main issues confronting the medical profession today is National Medical Commission Bill, said Dr Dinesh Singh, former district president of IMA.

“This bill has the potential to change the character of medical education and healthcare delivery in this country adversely.

We are gravely worried as we apprehend that irrevocable damage might occur in the realm of public health from which the nation may take few generations to recover. This bill promotes cross pathy and quackery. Besides, the medical education would have pro rich reservation.

This anti -people legislation would make medical education out of bounds for the economically and socially backward sections of the society.

Though this is the principal issue there are other issues too like the Clinical Establishments Act and the rising violence on the doctors and the hospitals,” he added. Notably simultaneous yatras were flagged off from Jammu, Imphal, Ajmer, Kolkata and Dwaraka on Sunday, said Shrimali.

“In all, 1700 local branches of IMA conducted cycle rally in their towns on Sunday. Four streams of cycle yatras began from all the directions of the country which would finally converge on Delhi on March 25.

The issues concerning health and the medical profession will be placed before the Maha Panchayat to be held in Delhi on that day and NMC Bill would be discussed threadbare.

The Maha Panchayat would announce our further course of action,” said Singh.