Kolkata Hospital Tragedy Triggers Doctors’ Strike Across Northeast, Disrupting Healthcare Services

Healthcare services across Northeastern states were severely disrupted on Saturday due to a nationwide strike called by the Indian Medical Association (IMA). The strike was in response to the horrific rape and murder of a woman doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The impact was felt as Outpatient Departments (OPDs) were completely shut down, with only emergency services being provided.

The 24-hour strike, which began at 6 a.m. on Saturday and ended at 6 a.m. on Sunday, saw doctors across the country withdrawing their services in protest. The IMA initiated the strike to demand justice for the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered on August 9 in Kolkata.

In Assam, medical professionals joined the nationwide protest in large numbers. Doctors from various medical colleges across the state wore black badges and held placards, calling for severe punishment for those responsible for the Kolkata doctor’s death. They also advocated for the establishment of central laws to protect the safety and security of doctors and other medical professionals.

An agitated doctor at Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) expressed that their primary demand is justice for the victim. He emphasized the need for improved security measures, logistical support, and societal awareness campaigns to prevent such heinous crimes in the future.

In Tripura, the strike saw participation not only from the IMA state unit but also from the All Tripura Government Doctors’ Association and various other medical bodies. In Agartala, the IMA organized a protest rally, with doctors voicing their concerns over the safety of healthcare professionals.

Nagaland also saw widespread participation in the strike, with the IMA Nagaland State branch, Nagaland In-Service Doctors’ Association (NIDA), and the Indian Dental Association, Nagaland State unit, joining the nationwide protest. Although OPD services were halted, emergency services remained operational. The associations condemned the vandalism at R.G. Kar Medical College on August 14 and reiterated their demand for better protection of medical professionals nationwide.

In Arunachal Pradesh, doctors at the Tomo Riba Institute of Health and Medical Sciences in Naharlagun staged demonstrations as part of the protest. They carried banners, placards, and shouted slogans, demanding swift justice for the victim and her family. Doctors at Itanagar’s Ramakrishna Mission Hospital also participated, calling for 24/7 security for both government and private healthcare workers.

In Manipur, the strike led to the closure of OPDs in all hospitals, including the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences (JNIMS) in Imphal. However, emergency and in-patient services continued to operate without disruption, ensuring that critical care was still available despite the protest.