Violence against medical professionals: IMA says countrywide strike today

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Sunday said it will go ahead with its strike on June 17 with withdrawal of non-essential health services across the country in the wake of the recent assault on doctors in West Bengal.

The announcement came a day after Union Health MinisterHarsh Vardhan asked states to consider enacting specific legislation forprotecting doctors and medical professionals from any form of violence.

   

The apex medical body, IMA, however, demanded acomprehensive central law in dealing with violence on doctors and healthcarestaff, and in hospitals.

Security measures and the determinants leading to violenceshould also be addressed, it said in a statement.

Exemplary punishment for perpetrators of violence should bea component of the central law and suitable amendments should be brought in theIndian Penal Code (IPC) and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), the IMA said.

The IMA said all non-essential services, including outdoorpatient department (OPD) services, will be withdrawn for 24 hours from 6 am onMonday to 6 am Tuesday.

Emergency and casualty services will continue to function,it said.

The medical body had launched a four-day nationwide protestfrom Friday and wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah demanding enactment of acentral law to check violence against healthcare workers.

It had also called for a countrywide strike on June 17 withwithdrawal of non-essential health services. 

On Saturday, Vardhan, along with a letter to all chiefministers, also attached a copy of the Draft Act provided by the IMA –theProtection of Medical Service Persons and Medical Service Institutions(Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss of Property) Act, 2017.

In its statement, the IMA said effective implementation ofthe central law has to be ensured by incorporating suitable clauses.

Nineteen states have already passed legislations in thisregard and in 2016, an inter-ministerial committee’s recommendations documentwas signed by the IMA with the central government, the medical body said.

Hospitals should be declared as “safezones”.Structured safety measures, including a three-layer security, CCTVcameras and restriction of entry of visitors should be well defined andenforced uniformly across the country in all sectors, it said.

“Healthcare violence has its origin in highexpectations, lack of infrastructure and inadequate human resources. Issues ofmedical profession involving doctor-patient relationship, effectivecommunication regarding the nature of illness and professional counselling playa part as well. “The IMA expects the government of India toprovide for each of these components,” according to the statement.

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