Nationwide Doctors' Strike Erupts After Trainee Medic's Murder

A nationwide doctors' strike was held on Saturday to protest the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. The Indian Medical Association called for a 24-hour strike, affecting OPD services and non-emergency medical services in various states. The government has pledged to form a committee to suggest safety measures for healthcare professionals.

The government on Saturday announced the formation of a committee to propose safety measures for healthcare professionals. This comes as OPD services across the country were disrupted, with doctors participating in a 24-hour nationwide strike organized by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) in protest of the alleged rape and murder of a trainee medic in Kolkata.

Resident doctors at government hospitals in several states, including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Maharashtra, and Haryana, have been protesting since Monday. The IMA had called for a nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services to highlight their five demands, including a central law to curb violence against healthcare personnel and declaring hospitals as safe zones.

The Union health ministry urged doctors to resume their duties given the increasing cases of dengue and malaria. The IMA's response to the government's proposal is pending, as consultations with state branches continue.