Doctors at Silchar Medical College hold protest in support of agitating doctors in Kolkata

June 14: In the backdrop of massive protests across the country over the attack on a doctor at a hospital in Kolkata, medical fraternity at Silchar also joined hands in this cause. On Friday, the doctors and PG students of Silchar Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) organised a protest demonstration initially in front of the Out Patient Department of and later on in front of the main gate.

Slogans were raised to bring to book the culprit who brutally assaulted a doctor in Kolkata. Demands were also raised to ensure proper security of the doctors working at SMCH.

They further demanded passing of stringent laws so that none dares to assault doctors on duty. While speaking to newsmen, protesting doctors said  “Emergency services will function normally as per their schedule.”

One of the agitating doctors said, “We severely condemn the recent incident of violence against Dr Paribaha Mukherjee who was brutally attacked by a violent mob at NRS Medical College, Kolkata and demand an exemplary action by the West Bengal government. All the legitimate demands of the resident doctors in West Bengal should be accepted unconditionally.”

Meanwhile, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has announced a nationwide doctors’ strike on 17 June. As per an official release issued by the IMA, it was stated that 3.5 lakh doctors will take part in the nationwide strike on Monday. The IMA said all non-essential services including OPDs will be withdrawn for 24 hours from 6 am on June 17, while emergency and causality services will continue to function.

The doctors have been agitating since Tuesday in West Bengal demanding security for themselves in government hospitals, after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured allegedly by relatives of a patient who died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital.