DIBRUGARH, June 18 - The Dibrugarh branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday took part in the all India 24-hour strike of withdrawal of non-emergency services as a mark of protest against violence against doctors in West Bengal. All the health establishments of the city, both government and private, had supported the strike.
All routine OPD services in Assam Medical College and Hospital, nursing homes, private clinics, chambers, diagnostic services in private laboratories and hospitals, elective OTs, dental services were withdrawn from 6 am on Monday. However, all emergency cases have attended to as usual, a release from IMA here stated.
This agitation programme is in support of the agitating doctors of West Bengal as well as against the repeated violent attacks on doctors and associated medical personnel in different places of our State, the release added. The Dibrugarh branch of IMA has demanded a strong Central act for protection of doctors to carry out their duties and also urged upon the State government to strongly implement the Assam Medical Service Persons and Institutions� Prevention of Violence and Damage to Properties Act, 2011.
Our Staff Correspondent from Silchar adds: In a bid to express solidarity with the protesting doctors in Kolkata, doctors across hospitals in Barak Valley resorted to strike on Monday responding to the nationwide call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
However, even as OPD services in Government and non-governmental hospitals and health centres across the valley did not run, emergency services remained unaffected.
Dr Babul Kumar Bezbaruah, Principal of Silchar Medical College and Hospital informed that emergency services and indoor services at SMCH were conducted without any fuss during the protest. SMCH teachers� association and other doctors� wings were also seen echoing voices in protest during the day.
All Assam Non-Government Health Establishment Association president Mridul Mazumdar shared his views saying that the association extends total support to the cause for which the nationwide protest has been called for.
OPD services at Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre and also at Lions Eye Hospital were also hampered owing to doctors participating in the stir.
Our Correspondents add:
Doomdooma: The Doctors and hospitals in Doomdooma circle, both government and private, joined in the nationwide protest on Monday against the frequent attacks and violence on doctors across the country.
The National Chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) called for a nationwide strike to boycott OPD and non-essential services for 24 hours. The strike that had begun at 6 am on Monday came to an end Tuesday morning. Doomdooma unit of IMA brought out a protest rally in Doomdooma town on Monday in which almost all the doctors of the circle participated.
Talking to this correspondent, Dr PJ Deka, the secretary of Doomdooma unit of IMA expressed deep concern over the growing incidents of violence on doctors across the country. �A doctors is also a human being, not God,� he added.
DHEMAJI: Following directive of Assam Medical Service Association, doctors and other medical staffs of Dhemaji district staged two-hour pen down strike protesting against assault on doctors in West Bengal recently.
The doctors in district hospitals, CHCs and PHCs abstained from performing duty from 8 to 10 this morning to mark the protest and, consequently, OPD chambers remained closed for two hours.
ANN Service from Sivasagar adds: Supporting the pan-India doctors� strike in solidarity with the protesting doctors of Kolkata, Indian Medical Association�s Sivasagar unit and All India Federation of Government Doctors, Sivasagar chapter carried out demonstration with placards in front of Sivasagar Civil Hospital besides observing a token pen-down strike from 6 to 10 am on Monday.
The doctors, however, continued their duties in emergency and casualty services. The doctors� team was led by Dr Arun Mahanta, president IMA Sivasagar, Dr Rajiv Baruah, Superintendent , Sivasagar Civil Hospital and Dr Sugata Shyam, Assistant Secretary, IMA, Sivasagar. Through a release, the doctors appealed to the public to stop violent acts against doctors and other medical staff.
