IMA Chandigarh calls for total withdrawal of non-essential services on Monday

CHANDIGARH: Intensifying their agitation demanding strict action against culprits responsible for brutal attack on doctors in West Bengal recently, Indian Medical Association, Chandigarh has given a call to it’s members for total withdrawal of non-essential services for a period by 24 hours from 6am on 17th June to 6am to 18th June, 2019. Regular services like OPD, radiology and laboratories will remain closed. All emergency and casualty services will however, continue to function.
According to Dr Rajesh Dhir, president, IMA, "We have been forced to take this step as the West Bengal government is continuing it’s adamant attitude despite national level protests and appeal from Union home minister, Union health minister, governor of West Bengal and high court of West Bengal. Our colleagues have been on strike since last five days, more than one thousand senior doctors have resigned from government hospitals, but the West Bengal government is refusing to act. All the legitimate demands of the resident doctors in West Bengal should be accepted immediately and unconditionally.
"IMA has declared a zero tolerance policy against violence on doctors and healthcare establishments. We have been demanding a National Law Against Hospital Violence which should provide a minimum of seven years imprisonment for hospital violence. Hospitals should be declared as safe zones and provision of appropriate security should be the responsibility of the State", said Dr Neeraj Kumar, senior member of IMA Chandigarh.
Giving details, Dr Hardeep Singh Santokh, secretary IMA said that all doctors in private sector in Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula, resident doctors of PGI and Govt Medical College sector-32, medical students and interns will be taking part in the strike. The faculty of PGI, GMCH and GMSH sector-16 will continue to work but will fully support the protest. A press conference will be organized in IMA complex, sector 35-B Chandigarh at 12.15pm and a protest march will be taken out in the evening. In addition, we will be submitting memorandum of our demands to senior administrative officials of the city.