IMA withdraws proposed protest after govt. assures security
New Delhi, April 22 (PTI): Home Minister Amit Shah on Wednesday said safety of doctors at their work place is non-negotiable and that the government is committed to their cause while appealing to them to reconsider their proposed protest, prompting the Indian Medical Association (IMA) to withdraw its stir.
Interacting with a group of doctors and representatives of IMA, Shah along with Health Minister Harsh Vardhan assured them security, officials said.
The interaction came amid reports of attacks on healthcare workers and assaults on some doctors engaged in Covid-19 duties in different parts of the country.
The home minister interacted with the doctors and the IMA through video-conferencing, a home ministry official said.
Shah appreciated their good work and assured them full security, the official said. He appealed to them to not do even a symbolic protest as the government is with the doctors, the official said.
Later Shah tweeted, "Health Minister @drharshvardhan and I interacted with doctors & representatives of IMA through video conferencing." "The way our doctors are performing their duties in these testing times is exceptional. I urge every Indian to cooperate with doctors in this fight against Covid-19," he said.
In another tweet, the home minister said, "Safety and dignity of our doctors at their work place is non-negotiable. It is our collective responsibility to ensure conducive atmosphere for them at all times. I have assured doctors that Modi govt is committed to their cause and appealed to reconsider their proposed protest."
The IMA was planning to stage protests against assaults on some doctors and healthcare workers engaged in Covid-19 duties. Later, the IMA said it has withdrawn the protests.
There have been reports of doctors being abused, beaten and denied entry into residences.
Families of at least two doctors, who succumbed to the novel coronavirus in Shillong and Chennai, had faced opposition while performing their last rites as the locals feared that burying them in their localities may lead to the spread of the infection.