Doctors working in government hospitals in several states in India have been on an “indefinite” strike since Monday (August 12) in protest against the rape and murder of a young medical worker.
The body of the 31-year-old female medical worker was found with multiple injuries on Friday (9/8) at a government hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, where she worked as a resident doctor.
The autopsy results confirmed the rape and murder of the doctor.
Police have arrested a man who worked at the hospital where the victim also worked. The man was in charge of managing patient queues at the hospital, local media reported.
The demonstrations by doctors demanding justice and improved workplace safety were initially held in Kolkata, but have now spread to various parts of India.
Sexual violence against women is a recurring problem in India. Data shows that nearly 90 rape cases were reported every day in 2022 in the country with a total population of 1.4 billion.
But doctors say they face additional threats of workplace violence from patients' families, especially after they deliver bad news about their patients.
“There should be strong security arrangements in hospitals and CCTV cameras should be installed,” said Sarvesh Pandey, of the Resident Doctors' Association of India.
Pandey added that the doctors who held the protest were demanding a law specifically regulating the protection of medical personnel from violence while on duty.
“Incidents happen every day where doctors are attacked,” Pandey said.
A survey conducted by the Indian Medical Association found that 75 percent of doctors in India had experienced violence. (rs/ah)
