The Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA), a body representing resident doctors’ associations (RDAs), on Sunday called for closure of elective services in hospitals across India from Monday in solidarity with protesting doctors in West Bengal.
The call to close elective services comes after reports of violence against protesting young doctors who were on strike demanding justice for a 31-year-old resident doctor, who was found brutally assaulted in the seminar room of the RG Faculty of Medicine Kar of Kolkata.
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Elective services are neither urgent nor medically necessary. These procedures are usually scheduled in advance and differ from urgent or emergency surgeries that require immediate attention due to life-threatening conditions.
Several RDAs and other doctors’ associations across India had earlier closed non-urgent elective services for 13 days in August 2024, canceling them after being urged by the Supreme Court.
In an open letter addressed to all state RDAs, including those of medical colleges and institutes of national importance, the medical body said that after exhaustive discussions, they have unanimously decided that it is time to unite on a national level.
“In an earlier letter we had given an ultimatum to the Chief Minister of West Bengal to intensify the escalation, but no satisfactory action has been seen, forcing us to request all RDAs and medical associations across the country to join hands. to us in our call to close elective services throughout the country, starting Monday,” the statement said.
However, the body also asked all RDAs to ensure that emergency services continue to function at all times.
The Supreme Court had also asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to form a ten-member National Task Force (NTF) to formulate a protocol for the safety of healthcare professionals.
The high court had directed the task force to submit an interim report within three weeks and a final report within two months of the order.
First published: October 13, 2024 | 21:11 IS
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