Agencies, Guwahati
Doctors of different government medical colleges and hospitals in Assam today joined the nationwide protest against assault of doctors on duty, in response to a call for the agitation given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
Sit-in protests were staged by the doctors at different hospitals, including at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital here, Assam Medical College and Hospital at Dibrugarh, and government hospitals at Sivsagar, Morigaon, Tinsukia and Bongaigaon, among other places.
The doctors have decided not to attend the Out-Patient Departments and perform non-date specific operations or procedures.
However, emergency services in all the hospitals are continuing without any disturbance to ensure minimum problems to the patients.
Though the nationwide strike is a 24-hour one, beginning from 0600 hours this morning, most doctors in Assam have announced of resuming duty by this evening in view of the difficulties of the patients.
The protesting doctors displayed placards demanding security for the on-duty medical personnel and a more proactive role of the governments in this regard.
Doctors across the country have been protesting the recent assault of medical staff by relatives of a patient at a government hospital in Kolkata.
The IMA had given the call for a nationwide 24-hour strike for withdrawal of non-essential health services across the country.