New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Saturday said that 724 doctors have lost their lives during the second wave of the pandemic. The IMA also announced to organize a national protest day on June 18 in support of their demand to the central government for a stringent law to punish people found involved in violence against doctors.
IMA president Dr JA Jayalal said that the recent series of violence against doctors in the last two weeks in Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Delhi, UP, Karnataka and many other places is extremely disturbing. “Doctors have sustained multiple fractures and serious injuries. Women doctors are facing more violent verbal and physical assaults. Every day violent attacks are taking place in all parts of the country,” said Dr Jayalal.
IMA has appealed to the Prime Minister, Home Minister, Health Minister and Chief Ministers of various states, to address the safety of healthcare professionals immediately. “We demand a central hospital and health care professional’s protection act with IPC and Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). Standardization and augmentation of security in each hospital. Hospitals shall be declared as protected zones and the culprits should be tried under fast-track mode and stringent punishment shall be given,” added Dr Jayalal.
The IMA will organize National Demand Day on June 15 besides releasing a White Paper on the violence on doctors. Referring to the controversial statement of yoga guru Baba Ramdev, the IMA said that unwarranted derogatory insults by Ramdev is in the legal course and will be followed up.
“Ramdev has now publicly issued the new statement saying that 'doctors are devdoots' and he will personally also go for vaccination. But the mental agony and verbal violence inflicted on us, is unforgettable,” said DR Jayalal.
Referring to the recent statement of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the IMA president said, “We thank the Prime Minister for making it clear that anyone who acts against vaccination is doing harm to the nation.” In a controversial statement, Baba Ramdev had recently said that allopathic doctors in India have directly or indirectly killed many people.
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