BENGALURU, 17 AUG

Members of Indian Medical Association (IMA) in Karnataka on Saturday joined the nationwide protest condemning the rape and murder of a female doctor in Kolkata.

Seeking justice for the 31-year-old trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and killed in a Kolkata hospital, protest marches were taken out by the doctors in several parts of the southern state.

IMA Karnataka Unit President Srinivasa S said its branches across Karnataka were shut and there were no OPD services anywhere. "All we want is justice for this young female doctor who was brutally raped and killed. Just like other professionals, doctors are also working in sensitive areas and so, we want a central law to safeguard doctors," he said. Their other demands include - setting up safe zones and restrooms for doctors in hospitals who are working round the clock and sufficient number of CCTV cameras installed inside every hospital.

In Bengaluru, the agitation took place at the IMA office in Chamarajpet and at Freedom Park in Bengaluru where more than 1,000 doctors from government and private hospitals participated. “This brutal act is not just an attack on one individual; it's an attack on our profession and our values,” said Dr Sirish Shivaramaiah, President of Karnataka Association of Resident Doctors (KARD). Dr Basalingappa R Mukkuppi, Joint Secretary of KARD, said “This protest is a symbol of intolerance towards the assault environment for our healthcare workers and demand justice for the rape and murder of our fellow trainee doctor on Kolkata.”

The protest affected the functioning of government and private hospitals in Bengaluru, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar. Services like OPDs, elective surgeries and modern medicines were affected, while emergency services remained operational, with critical care and trauma units functioning without disruption.

Dr Beere Gowda, President of Indian Academy of Paediatrics Kolar urged the Central government to instruct all state governments to provide better facilities for the doctors at their work place.

Meanwhile, the Karnataka government on Friday suspended the leaves of the medical officers and surgeons of government hospitals.  –PTI, Salar News