In the capital, doctors from major hospitals including AIIMS, RML, LNJP and Maulana Azad Medical College ended their strike that began on August 12.

Following the Supreme Court’s appeal and instructions on doctors’ safety, the Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA), a leading organisation of RDAs in the country, announced that the strike was being called off and that doctors in training should return to work.

“We are grateful to all RDAs, media personnel, various medical and non-medical associations and especially our patients for their support and understanding,” a message on X said.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), an umbrella organisation of doctors, also announced that it would end the protest.

“#FAIMA has decided to call off the strike after positive instructions from the #Chief Justice of India. We are happy to accept our prayers for temporary protection and necessary steps to improve safety in hospitals. Together we will continue the struggle in a legal manner,” FAIMA said in a post on X.

The decision to end the strike comes as a major relief to patients who were struggling to get regular medical care due to the closure of government hospital outpatient clinics while emergency services were functioning normally.

In Uttar Pradesh, young doctors put an end to their fuss.

“Doctors in training in Uttar Pradesh resume work after assurances from the Supreme Court of India,” the UP RDA said in a post on X.

However, the state medical association said it will continue to campaign for justice for the victims and the safety of healthcare workers during the symbolic protest.

In Chandigarh too, doctors from the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) ended their protests over the Kolkata incident.

Following the end of the strike by the Association of Junior Doctors (ARD), PGIMER authorities have indicated that they will resume all elective services with immediate effect.

In Rajasthan, doctors in Jaipur have decided to end the ongoing strike.

Dr Manohar Siyol, president of the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors (JARD), said that a decision was taken at a meeting on Thursday evening to call off the strike after the Supreme Court appealed during the hearing of the case.

Earlier in the day, a Supreme Court had termed the Kolkata Police’s delay in registering the unnatural death of the woman doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital as “extremely disturbing”.

However, the Supreme Court has appealed to the doctors who protested the incident to resume work and has not imposed any coercive measures against them.

The court ruled that judges and doctors cannot go on strike because they deal with matters that affect people’s lives and freedom.

“Justice and medicine cannot afford to be stopped. Can we (judges) now sit outside the Supreme Court?” asked the bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud.

The Supreme Court directed the central and state governments to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals across the country. However, it also questioned the 14-hour delay in filing the FIR and the reasons for it. It also examined the sequence of events and the timing of the procedural formalities.

While hearing an autopsy case regarding the unnatural death of a doctor, the bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misra issued several directions on the safety of doctors, rights of protesters and responsibilities of the West Bengal government.

Meanwhile, the CBI, which was directed by the Calcutta High Court to investigate the case, sought polygraph tests on former RG Kar Medical College principal Sandip Ghosh and four other doctors in connection with the case.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding stricter central laws with exemplary punishment for rapists.

On August 9, the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar hall of the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The next day, a civilian volunteer was arrested in connection with the crime. Later, the Calcutta High Court transferred the case to the CBI.

First publication: Aug 23, 2024 | 07:06 AM IST