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IMPHAL — The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Manipur state branch, Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) Manipur chapter and all hospitals and clinics of Manipur have announced withdrawal of all non-emergency services to protest the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata and the subsequent vandalism at the health facility.
The 24-hour protest will start at 6 am on August 17 and conclude at 6am of August 18, while protest will held at various locations.
Stating that there will be protests at different healthcare facilities and hospitals in the state, Vice President of IMA Manipur state branch, Dr. Ng Arunkumar, said: “The routine OPD (outpatient department), OT (Operation Theatre) and diagnostics services will be ceased. But emergency service will not be affected.”
The main demand of the IMA Manipur Branch is to book the main culprit of the violence incident and to establish a central law to protect the healthcare zones from violence, he added.
On August 9, a young postgraduate student in chest medicine was brutally raped and murdered while on duty at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The incident shocked the entire medical fraternity and the nation alike.
Expressing solidarity with the medical fraternity at the RG Kar Medical College during this difficult time, the AHPI-Manipur chapter in a statement, said: “It is imperative that those responsible are brought to justice swiftly to prevent such incidents from recurring in the future.”
Member hospitals of AHPI-Manipur chapter also announced withdrawal of routine patient care for 24 hours, while emergency service will be opened.
“We reaffirm our commitment to the protection and wellbeing of all healthcare professionals and will continue to advocate for their safety and dignity,” it stated.
In response to the nationwide strike, the Executive Committee of the Teachers’ and Medical Officers Association of Regional Institute of Medical Sciences has also announced a 24-hour withdrawal of patient care services.