Doctors Strike LIVE: Medical Services Hit in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad as Kolkata Protests Fan Out

Doctors Resign in Protest | As protests enter fourth day, four more doctors at North Bengal Medical College and Hospital put in their papers. They condemned the way Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee handled the situation and expressed their deep concern over the current medical emergency going on in West Bengal.

Oppn Seeks Mamata's Resignation as Health Minister | The opposition camp in West Bengal slammed CM Mamata Banerjee for her threats and sought her immediate resignation as health minister. "Is this a way to deal with the agitating doctors? Instead of solving the problem, she is blaming the doctors, the BJP and others. This is completely absurd. If she can't control the situation, she should resign as the health minister,"  BJP Vice-President Jay Prakash Majumdar said.

The call for strike reached down south as members of the Indian Medical Association in Thiruvananthapuram join protest against attacks on doctors.

Kerala: Members of Indian Medical Association, Trivandrum hold protest over violence against doctors in West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/aOWGbqXxlx

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Doctors in Jaipur wear black bands to work in solidarity with the striking doctors in Kolkata.

Jaipur: Doctors at Jaipuria hospital carry out their duties wearing black bands as a mark of protest over violence against doctors in West Bengal. pic.twitter.com/1fDLPco7po

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Doctors at the JJ Hospital in Mumbai demonstrate as they join the call for nationwide strike against violence in Kolkata.

NRS Hospital Short-Staffed | The NRS Hospital in Kolkata is facing a shortage of staff and the OPD is not functioning at full strength. The doctors are only admitting patients who are in serious condition.

WATCH VIDEO | Doctors in Raipur come out in support of their colleagues in Kolkata as they join protest against violence at the NRS Hospital.

#WATCH Resident Doctors at Raipur's Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital raise slogans of 'We Want Justice' as they protest over violence against doctors in West Bengal. #Chhattisgarh pic.twitter.com/70BsCTmGLN

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Doctors at the government medical college in Nagpur assemble with posters of 'Save the Saviour' and 'Stand with NRSMCH' as they strike against violence.

Nagpur: Doctors with 'Save the Saviour' & 'Stand with NRSMCH' posters at Government Medical College, hold protest over violence against doctors in West Bengal. #Maharashtra pic.twitter.com/0jRGeW5qyF

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Union Heath Minister Harsh Vardhan condemned the violence against doctors in Kolkata and urged patients and their attendants to exercise restraint. He said he will take up the matter of doctors' security with all chief ministers and asked the doctors to ensure that essential services to the people are not disrupted.

Showing solidarity, the Resident Doctors' Association at the Safdarjung Hospital also holds protest over violence against doctors in Kolkata. The OPD services were partially affected. However, the senior doctors have been instructed not to hamper emergency services at any cost.

Delhi: Resident Doctors' Association, Safdarjung Hospital holds protest over violence against doctors in #WestBengal. pic.twitter.com/qFELP2hXuX

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Doctors at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) prepare to observe strike over violence against doctors in West Bengal.

The patients suffer due to lack of services as the doctors go on a nationwide strike today.

Delhi: Patients face difficulties as Resident Doctors Association (RDA) of AIIMS is on strike today over violence against doctors in West Bengal. Relative of a patient says, "My mother's dialysis was scheduled for today, we were told to go & get it done from somewhere else," pic.twitter.com/sFVF6D8VMj

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

The doctors at NRS Hospital in Kolkata continue to demonstrate against violence.

Kolkata: Students of NRS Medical College & Hospital sit on a protest over violence against doctors. #WestBengal pic.twitter.com/LgPYkFYsKv

— ANI (@ANI) June 14, 2019

Lack of Protection to Doctors | For those saying "Ono Rugider ki dosh?" (what is the fault of the other patients) Shabba suggested they should question the government as in why the police officers posted in government hospitals do little to nothing to protect doctors. "Please question them that when 2 truckload of goons showed up why wasn't back up sent immediately?" Hakim asked

'Deeply Ashamed' | "As a TMC supporter I am deeply ashamed at the inaction and the silence of our leader," Shabba Hakim said on the social networking site close to Wednesday-Thursday midnight.

Questioning inaction in the matter, Hakim, in a facebook post, appealed to the people to ask why "goons were still surrounding hospitals and beating up doctors".

Kolkata Mayor's Daughter Slams CM | Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim's daughter, Shabba Hakim, who is a doctor, criticised Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's handling of the ongoing doctors' strike and said the medicos have the right to "peaceful protest" and "safety at work".

Doctors Defy Mamata's Ultimatum | The striking doctors defied a deadline set by Banerjee, who has alleged that opposition BJP and CPI(M) were instigating the protesters as part of a "conspiracy" and giving communal colour to the issue.

CM Orders Doctors to End Strike | The chief minister further directed the police to clear the premises and only allow patients to stay. She then issued a four-hour ultimatum to junior doctors to withdraw their strike or vacate their hostel quarters.

Mamata Banerjee had yesterday visited the state-run SSKM hospital in Kolkata around noon amid slogans of "we want justice" by the doctors. "I condemn the agitation. The junior doctors' strike is a conspiracy by the CPI(M) and BJP," said Banerjee, who also holds the health and family welfare portfolio in the state government.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote to the doctors yesterday and asked them to resume services. "Please take care of all patients, poor people are coming from all districts. I'll be obliged & honored if you all please take full care of hospitals. they must run smoothly and peacefully," the letter read.

West Bengal CM writes to Senior Doctors/Professors of Medical Colleges & Hospitals, states, "Please take care of all patients, poor people are coming from all districts. I'll be obliged & honored if you all please take full care of hospitals. they must run smoothly & peacefully," pic.twitter.com/sSl9JwpDjY

— ANI (@ANI) June 13, 2019

The IMA direction said, "All the State Branches should organise Dharna before all District Collectors' offices between 10 am- 12 noon. A Memorandum addressed to the Prime Minister should be handed over to the District Collector in every District."

IMA Calls for Nationwide Protest | The India Medical Association has declared "All India Protest Day" on Friday against the incident and expressed solidarity with the striking doctors. "IMA condemns the violence perpetrated on a young doctor. Entire medical fraternity expresses our solidarity with the Residents who are on strike," the association said on its official website.

Several resident doctors also held a protest at Jantar Mantar against the brutal attack. Condemning the violence in Bengal, the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) has also urged all the RDAs across the country to join the token strike.

Medical Services Affected | Services have been affected over the past three days in emergency wards, outpatient facilities and pathological units of many state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a large number of private medical facilities in the state due to the strike by the doctors.

The doctors are protesting after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata by a mob following the death of a patient.

In Solidarity | On Thursday, resident doctors at the AIIMS and Safdarjung Hospital here worked with bandages on their heads in a symbolic protest on Thursday and called for suspension of all non-emergency services, including OPD, on June 14 to protest against the violence in Kolkata.

There will be a complete shutdown of all out patient departments (OPDs), routine operation theatre services and ward visits, except emergency services in the hospitals, several medical bodies of the city have said.

Pan-India Strike | Healthcare services at private and government hospitals in the national capital are likely to be affected on Friday with scores of doctors deciding to boycott work for a day to express solidarity with their protesting colleagues in Kolkata.

Attack on Doctors | Junior doctors in West Bengal are on a strike since Tuesday after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Demanding security in government hospitals, the striking junior doctors refused to end their stir.