Doctors | Business Upturn

Kolkata Doctor’s Rape-Murder Case: Indian Medical Association begins nationwide strike, OPDs shut

Aditya Bhagchandani — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 07:53:56 +0000

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a nationwide strike, halting non-emergency medical services for 24 hours starting from 6 am on August 17. This strike is in response to the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital in Kolkata, which has sparked widespread outrage among the medical community and beyond.

Strike Details

Duration: 24 hours, starting from 6 am on August 17
Affected Services:
- Elective medical procedures
- Out-patient consultations
Unaffected Services:
- Emergency services
- Casualty departments at hospitals

Background

The tragic incident occurred on August 9 when a 31-year-old trainee doctor was raped and murdered inside the medical college where she worked. This heinous crime has triggered nationwide protests, highlighting the urgent need for better protection and safety measures for women, especially those in the medical profession.

IMA’s Demands

The IMA has issued a strong statement with several demands aimed at improving security in hospitals:

Enhanced Security Protocols: Hospitals should have security measures comparable to airports.
Safe Zones: Hospitals should be declared safe zones with CCTV coverage and increased security personnel.
Government Response: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has taken over the case from Kolkata police as of August 13.

Nationwide Outrage

The incident has led to widespread anger and protests, not just within the medical community but across the nation. Doctors and women’s groups are particularly vocal, expressing their frustration at the ongoing violence against women and the lack of effective deterrents.

Prime Minister’s Address

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the growing concern over crimes against women. Although he did not directly mention the Kolkata incident, he emphasized the need for swift investigations and punishments for such crimes.

Vets of Bengaluru join protest against Maneka Gandhi over allegedly abusing a veterinarian

Diya S. — Thu, 24 Jun 2021 08:07:09 +0000

Many veterinary doctors in the city of Bengaluru have showed their support to a protest happening nationwide against BJP MP and animal rights activist Maneka Gandhi for allegedly threatening a veterinary doctor.

The protest was triggered after an audio clip went viral on social media where Gandhi is heard asking vet NL Gupta to return the money he had taken from a client post surgery. The voice call was not confirmed independently but the doctor has accused the Sitapur MP.

The vets all over the country are accusing her of making derogatory remarks about veterinary professionals, wore black hands on their arms. Vets across the nation were called by the Indian Veterinary Association (IVA) to observe Wednesday as ‘Black Day.’ They have issued a notice to register condemnation for the “high-handed act of using abusive and filthy language against a veterinarian who performed a surgery on a dog and demanded money as compensation.”

The Chief Veterinary Officer of Dodda-ballapur Veterinary Hospital Dr. Lokesh said that eight doctors at their hospital wore black hands around their arms to show solidarity. He added, “We feel that she is misusing her power. She jumps to conclusions without listening to both sides of the story. She should give the vets a chance to explain their side too. She should understand what happened instead of misusing her power and threatening to cancel our licences.

As told to PTI, a member of the IVA and former Chief Veterinary Officer in Agra Dr. A K Doneria stated “A doctor gives his best and cannot do injustice with any patient. We condemn the incident that happened with the veterinarian doctor in Agra.”

719 doctors died of Covid in second wave of pandemic, says IMA

Aryan Jakhar — Sat, 12 Jun 2021 08:24:26 +0000

As many as 719 doctors have died during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the latest report by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), with Bihar reporting the highest number of 111 doctors dying in the line of duty.

The second wave of coronavirus pandemic across the country is not over yet. This is the reason doctors are losing their lives every day while saving the lives of Covid-infected patients.

According to the IMA, a total of 1,467 doctors have died so far since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. As many as 748 doctors had lost their lives during the first wave of the pandemic.

Delhi is the only state after Bihar where more deaths of doctors have been reported. According to official figures, 109 doctors have died in Delhi, 79 in Uttar Pradesh, 43 in Rajasthan, 39 in Jharkhand and 35 in Andhra Pradesh.

However, there are some states where only a few doctors have lost their lives such as one in Puducherry, two in Tripura, two in Uttarakhand, two in Goa, while three doctors in Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab have died due to infections during the second wave.

According to the information provided by the IMA, most of the doctors between 30 to 55 years have lost their lives during the second wave of Covid-19, including resident doctors and doctors working as interns. Apart from these doctors, some pregnant women doctors have also lost their lives in the line of duty.

The coronavirus pandemic curve also seems to be flattening across the country, as 84,332 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours and 4,002 infected persons lost their lives due to the virus, according to the union health ministry data.

Baba Ramdev decides to take COVID-19 vaccine amid his row with allopathy

Himanjali Mahanta — Thu, 10 Jun 2021 08:34:25 +0000

Ramdev said his fight is not against doctors, but against the drug mafia. He said has nothing against Covid-19 medicine and will get inoculated soon, distancing himself from his earlier statement where he questioned the efficacy of Covid-19 vaccines.

Yoga guru Ramdev has said that he will take the vaccine against Covid-19 soon in what comes as his attempt to bury the hatchet with the Indian Medical Association. The yoga guru, who has been at odds with the doctors’ body, also advocated for vaccines and said everyone should get vaccinated, apart from practising Yoga and Ayurveda.

Ramdev also praised PM Modi’s announcement of a free, centralized Covid-19 vaccination drive which will begin on June 21, which is also the International Yoga Day.

This marks a complete shift from his earlier statement on vaccines where he questioned the efficacy of these vaccines in protecting one from Covid-19 infections as thousands of doctors, he said, contracted the infection after being vaccinated and died. On the contrary, he has the dual cover of Yoga and Ayurveda and has not yet taken the jibe, he had said earlier.

So is the fight between Ramdev and the Indian Medical Association a thing of the past now? The yoga guru has recently said his fight is not against doctors as they are a “gift to the planet”. His fight is against the drug mafia, which he clarified again on social media as he posted a document comparing the price of generic medicines and the branded medicines and said, “Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadh stores had to be opened because drug mafias have opened fancy shops where they are selling unnecessary medicines at very high prices instead of basic and necessary ones”.

IMA releases statement on harassment of Doctors in Madhya Pradesh

Aryan Jakhar — Sat, 05 Jun 2021 10:04:03 +0000

Indian Medical Association on Saturday issued a statement saying that it is “appalled to learn of intimidation tactics by Madhya Pradesh bureaucracy against junior doctors in the state, in view of their demands for bed reservation, workplace security and stipend hike”.

“IMA stands with them and demands that the state government look into their cause,” the statement added.

The medical association said that junior doctors of Madhya Pradesh have been for the past six months demanding some genuine rights, including a hike in stipends and free treatment for them and their families if they contract the deadly coronavirus infection and Covid incentives at par with medical colleges in most other states.

“IMA HQ stands with the junior doctors of Madhya Pradesh and we demand that the state government look into their cause and respond to their genuine demands by engaging with them at the earliest,” IMA said in a statement.

IMA further accused the Madhya Pradesh government of their refusal to give written assurances and said that doctors have been forced to tender their resignations.

“They’ve been in frequent contact with the administration for the past six months and have received only verbal assurances rather than written commitments for their demands. As a last resort, they have been on strike for the previous 5 days as a result of the government’s refusal to give written assurances, but the state government has yet to take any steps to engage in meaningful dialogue with them. They have been forced to tender their resignations en masse,” it said.

The Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU) is using intimidation tactics, threatening to cancel their registrations and demanding that they pay a seat departure bond and quit their hostel rooms, the IMA claimed.

“One of the junior doctors had to witness his parents being harassed by the state bureaucracy,” the medical association claimed.

IMA has termed such events unforgivably heinous and said that at this time of the epidemic, such harassment of frontline workers who have been serving selflessly is unacceptably cruel.

“IMA (HQs) is appalled to learn of such events, which are unforgivably heinous. They are the same healthcare workers whose efforts were lauded by our Prime Minister. At this time of the epidemic, such harassment of frontline workers who have been serving selflessly is unacceptably cruel,” IMA added.

On Friday, over 3,000 resident doctors resigned in Madhya Pradesh demanding a written assurance of “what they were promised by the government.”

The resident doctors, protesting since May 31, had put forward five demands, namely an increase in the stipend by six per cent per year, and separate arrangements at hospitals to treat doctors and their families. They also demanded that for the resident doctors on Covid duty, an additional 10 per cent marks must be given during government appointments.

30 per cent population of state to be vaccinated by August 15: Assam CM

Himanjali Mahanta — Sun, 30 May 2021 15:34:04 +0000

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Sunday visited the Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) to review COVID-19 arrangements in the largest hospital of Assam. During his visit, Sarma said, “His government is aiming at inoculating of the 30 per cent of its population of the Assam by August 15, if the vaccines are available”.

He also added that he has spoken to authorities of two vaccine-producing companies which have promised to send 7 lakh vaccines for the 18-44 years age groups in June, but they couldn’t say any date.

A consignment of vaccines for these people is likely to reach the state by 5-6 June, CM Sarma said. The state has 20,000- 25,000 vaccine doses for people aged 18-44 years.

Sarma further said about the vaccination drive of the state, “It is likely to go up by 30 per cent in June as compared to May, which further increase by 50 per cent in July.”

He took updates on 200 beds ICU at GMCH and inquired about patients’ health. He discussed other critical issues with the Principal & senior faculty. Also, he discussed arrangements for deputing doctors at the upcoming 300 bed ICU at Sarusajai hospital.

“I am sure COVID-19 positivity & morality rates would come down soon. Gratitude to doctors & medical staff for their relentless work,” CM Sarma said in a tweet.

#AssamCovidUpdate

GMCH continues to stand tall in state's fight against #COVID19.

On my visit to GMCH today, reviewed medical facilities & took updates on 200-bed ICU. Enquired about patients' health and discussed other critical issues with Principal & senior faculty. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/nPFvZIx2Jc

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) May 30, 2021

37 Doctors tests positive for Covid-19 in Delhi’s Sir Ganga Ram Hospital despite taking vaccine

Nitin Anand — Thu, 08 Apr 2021 18:50:59 +0000

37 Doctors of Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi have been tested positive for coronavirus. Five of them got admitted in the hospital, while 32 have mild symptoms and are in home isolation.

Today, Delhi recorded 7,437 fresh COVID-19 cases the highest single-day surge this year, while 24 more people died due to the coronavirus infection, taking the death toll to 11,157, according to the Delhi Health Ministry.

“Serving Covid patients at the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, 37 doctors of the hospital have tested positive for Covid-19. Majority of these corona warriors have mild symptoms. Thirty-two doctors are in home isolation and rest five are admitted in the Hospital,” the Hospital administration said in a statement, as quoted by PTI.

Sir Ganga Ram Hospital is one among the hospitals which have been at the forefront of the fight against the pandemic for nearly a year.

Delhi Government has ordered to increase in total number of beds reserved for COVID-19 patients from presently 1000 to 1500 at Lok Nayak Hospital and from 500 to 1000 at GTB Hospital, as quoted by ANI. Delhi Government has also ordered for deployment of Dental and Ayush doctors at COVID-19 hospitals in Delhi in view of rising COVID-19 cases.

Dental and Ayush doctors to be deployed at COVID19 hospitals in Delhi, in view of rising COVID19 cases: Delhi Government

— ANI (@ANI) April 8, 2021

Earlier today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the states and UTs in a meeting organised to discuss on the current surge of Covid-19 cases and to focus on effective “tracing and tracking” of the infection. He also added that all states should observe a ‘Tika Utsav’ (vaccination festival) from April 11 to April 14 and to encourage people to follow all necessary COVID-19 protocols.

India recorded over 1.26 lakh new COVID cases in the last 24 hours for first time since the beginning of the pandemic, setting an unprecedented, grim record during the second wave. Also, 685 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours.

Video: Patient declared dead in hospital when the patient was still alive; watch viral video

Anu Jain — Sat, 12 Sep 2020 10:23:21 +0000

We have learnt that a patient admitted in a Mumbai hospital was declared dead by the doctor, while he was actually alive.

In a video posted online on Instagram by @awakenedindians, visuals of doctors and his relatives can be seen where the brother is asking the doctors to measure the temperature of the patient. Later, on the monitor, it was learnt that the patient’s heart was still beating, the brother called in the doctors to continue the treatment. The kin turned angry after finding out that he was still alive but reported to be dead.

The police on duty were also present at the scene.

We do not confirm situation of patient (seen in video), we are still waiting to hear official confirmation or fact-check on scenario.

Here is the video (Note : Abuses language used):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CFAnVGhnjmX/