Doctors Across India Stage 24-Hour Strike, SMCH JDA and Teachers Join in Solidarity for RG Kar Hospital Victim

In a unified show of solidarity, doctors across India have launched a 24-hour strike, following a call from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to protest against the recent rape and murder of a young doctor at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata. The tragic incident, which occurred on August 9, has ignited nationwide outrage among the medical community, leading to widespread protests and the temporary closure of non-emergency services in hospitals. Along with the entire country, Silchar Medical College and Hospital also joined in solidarity.

The Junior Doctor’s Association (JDA) of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) joined the strike early this morning, alongside their counterparts nationwide. At SMCH, interns and junior doctors have been at the forefront of the protests, which began during outpatient department (OPD) hours yesterday. In a heartfelt move, faculty members of the institution also joined the demonstrations, showing their support for the protesting students.

At 6 PM today, teachers at SMCH took to the streets in solidarity, participating in a candlelight march to honour the memory of the deceased doctor and to demand justice. The Silchar Medical College Teachers Association organised the protest, led by its President, Professor Debadatta Dhar Chanda along with other senior doctors and teachers.

“The candle march at Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) organized today was to join the global protests of doctors against the heinous crime of rape and murder of a resident doctor at her place of work. This candle march is also to raise our demand for prompt identification and punishment of the culprits for the brutal act,” said Professor Chanda.

The IMA, in its statement on Friday, highlighted the urgent need for better safety measures and organized security protocols in hospitals to protect healthcare professionals, particularly women. The association emphasized that the Kolkata incident has revealed deep-seated issues of violence and insecurity within hospital environments, which need to be addressed immediately.

Emergency and casualty services have remained operational during the strike to ensure that critical care is not disrupted. However, the protests have drawn attention to the vulnerabilities faced by doctors and healthcare workers, calling for immediate action from authorities to prevent such incidents in the future.

The 24-hour strike, which began at 6 AM today, is expected to conclude tomorrow morning. Along with the government medical colleges and hospitals, private medical colleges also kept their OPD shut. Protests and demonstrations are likely to continue, with the medical community and supporters advocating for systemic changes to ensure the safety and security of all healthcare professionals across the nation.