Kolkata doctor rape-murder: AIIMS and other hospital doctors end 11-day strike after SC assurance

Doctors from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Resident Doctors' Association (RDA), Indira Gandhi Hospital (IGH), and Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital (RML) called off their 11-day strike on Thursday. The strike, which began on August 12, was a response to the rape and murder of a junior doctor in Kolkata. The decision came after the Supreme Court assured the doctors that no adverse action would follow their return to duty.

Throughout the strike, emergency services remained operational, but routine outpatient department (OPD) services were suspended. The protest was triggered by the brutal assault and murder of a junior doctor on August 9. Her body was found with severe injury marks inside the seminar hall of a state-run hospital's chest department in Kolkata. A civic volunteer was arrested by Kolkata Police in connection with the case a day later.



Following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurance, the AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association (RDA) released a statement confirming the resumption of duties.

"We are resuming duties following the Supreme Court's appeal and assurances and intervention in the RG Kar incident and safety for doctors. We commend the Court's action and call for adherence to its directives. Patient care remains our top priority," the statement read.


Dr Indra Shekhar Prasad, the RDA AIIMS Delhi president, emphasized the difficult choice they faced in going on strike.

"We are doctors. We provide public service and we want to continue our main service. We never want to go on a strike. But the incident at RG Kar was so gruesome and it exposed the safety and security lapses in our health system. So, we had to go on a strike. This was not easy for us. Strike was more difficult for us than duty. But Supreme Court gave direction and formed a task force. We appreciate this and hope that there will be justice in RG Kar incident. We will resume our duties at the earliest."

The RDA of RML Hospital also confirmed the cessation of their strike through an official statement.


"In view of the developments with respect to our demands, and our concerns being addressed by the Supreme Court, we hereby declare the strike to be withheld. We hereby have decided to resume all our duties. Recent mishappening at RG Kar Medical College highlighted the sorry state in which residents are working in our country. We have requested residents to resume services from 8 AM onwards, 23rd August."

Both associations highlighted the critical nature of the safety issues brought to light by the RG Kar incident. The Supreme Court's intervention promised a task force to look into these issues, providing a sense of direction and immediate relief to the protesting doctors.

By calling off the strike, the doctors aim to return to their primary duty of patient care, urging adherence to the Supreme Court's directives in the hopes of ensuring justice and improved safety within the medical community.