Indian Medical Association will observe nationwide protest day on violence against doctors on June 14 (Friday). The organization has moved into agitation mode following increasing incidences of violence against doctors and healthcare establishments. In a recent incident in West Bengal, Dr. Paribha Mukherjee, a young doctor was brutally attacked by a violent mob at NRS Medical College, Kolkata. He is critical and fighting for his life.
Indian Medical Association has been demanding a National law against hospital violence. The organization has declared a zero-tolerance policy against violence on doctors and healthcare establishments. World Medical Association has also passed a resolution against violence on healthcare establishments and urged to bring stronger legislation against this menace.
National Law against violence on hospitals has to be brought in urgently. The law should provide a minimum of seven years imprisonment for hospital violence. To ensure that the cases are registered, culprits are arrested and conviction is necessitated, appropriate mandatory provisions as provided in the POCSO act has to be instituted. Hospitals should be declared as special zones and provision of appropriate security should be the responsibility for the state.
It has been observed that the increase in violence will adversely affect the public health at large. Not only the patients undergoing the treatment in the institution facing violence will be affected but also there are a lot of indirect consequences. Institutions will be reluctant to take up complicated and risky patients which will affect public health at large. Threat of violence increases the stress levels of health care workers. Sound judgment regarding patient care will be compromised in such situations.
As part of the protest all doctors in the country will wear black badges on Friday. Dharna / protest meetings will be organized by the state units of IMA at respective state and district headquarters. An appeal for the central law against hospital violence will be e-mailed to the Prime Minister and the Central Home Minister by all the 2500 local branches of IMA. Medical students and junior doctors will also participate in the protest.
IMA in its statement strongly condemned the brutal violence at NRS medical college and announced that the entire medical fraternity has expressed solidarity to the seriously injured doctors. IMA stated that the organisation is ready for an agitation to press for strong legislation and strict action against hospital violence.
IMA, Nagpur also strongly condemned the interns and resident doctors in West Bengal. To express our solidarity Dr. Kush Jhunjhunwala President and Dr. Manjusha Giri Hon. Secretary, IMA Nagpur requested all IMA Members to wear black badges, while working on June 14.
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