10 Delhi hospitals initiate indefinite strike in response to Kolkata rape-murder incident

In response to the horrific rape and murder of a female resident doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Hospital, doctors across India have launched a significant protest. On Monday, ten major government hospitals in Delhi began an indefinite strike, disrupting all elective services.

The indefinite strike, which started at 9 AM, involves several prominent government hospitals in Delhi. The affected institutions include Maulana Azad Medical College, RML Hospital, Lady Hardinge Medical College, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB, IHBAS, Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Medical College, and the National Institute of TB and Respiratory Diseases Hospital. The action is coordinated by the Resident Doctors' Associations (RDA).

Scope of the strike

During the strike, all operation theatres (OTs), outpatient departments (OPDs), and ward duties will be suspended. Emergency services, however, will continue to function to ensure that urgent patient care remains uninterrupted.

The strike follows a call from the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) in reaction to the brutal assault on a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College in Kolkata. The 32-year-old victim’s semi-naked body was discovered in the seminar hall of the hospital late Thursday night.

Statement from the resident doctors' associations

The RDA issued a statement explaining their decision: "In solidarity with our colleagues at RG Kar, we are initiating a nationwide suspension of elective services starting Monday, August 12. This decision is made with a heavy heart but is essential to ensure that our demands for justice and enhanced safety are addressed promptly and effectively."