Assam junior doctors take part in 12-hr hunger strike

Guwahati: Junior doctors in Assam on Tuesday undertook a 12-hour fast to express solidarity with their counterparts at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
This protest was prompted by a call from the Indian Medical Association (IMA). Despite the fast, essential medical services in Assam continued as normal.

Doctors at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) maintained usual operations at both the outpatient department (OPD) and the emergency services ward.
The strike saw the participation of the Junior Doctors Network (JDN) of IMA and Junior Doctor Associations across India. Their efforts were backed by the IMA Medical Students Network (MSN), although participation from MSN in Assam remained virtual due to ongoing college holidays until Kati Bihu later this week.
The hunger strike, running from 6 am to 6 pm, took place at various locations in Assam, including Dibrugarh, Tezpur, Tinsukia, Kokrajhar, Bongaigaon, Barpeta, Guwahati, North Lakhimpur and Jorhat.
Events were held on medical college premises, at IMA houses and other venues.
“The National IMA is very much disturbed by the unfortunate situation that has forced doctors in West Bengal to resort to the extreme measure of ‘Fasting onto Death’ to ensure justice for Abhaya. In support of the junior doctors of Kolkata and also to express solidarity with them, the National IMA called for a ‘Dawn to Dusk’ hunger strike by the JDN (Junior Doctors Network) of IMA all over India,” IMA state branch president Dr Arunima Goswami and honorary secretary Dr Atul Kumar Kalita said
“With due guidance from the IMA Headquarters, the IMA Assam State Branch JDN (Junior Doctors Network) held a hunger strike on Oct 15,” the duo added.