Telangana doctors intensify protest; private hospitals suspend services on August 17

Nationwide protests by doctors in response to the recent rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata. Major private hospitals in Hyderabad suspend non-emergency services for a day.

Major private hospitals in Hyderabad have announced suspension of outpatient (OP) services and elective surgeries for 24 hours between 6 a.m. on Saturday (August 17) and 6 a.m. on Sunday (August 18).

The decision was taken to extend support to the ongoing protests by government doctors, who have been boycotting non-emergency duties for the past two days. They are seeking justice for a woman medical student who was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata recently.

The Indian Medical Association had issued a call to withdraw services for 24 hours from Friday (August 16) morning.

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“The IMA has announced a 24-hour nationwide withdrawal of non-emergency services. Yashoda Hospitals stands in solidarity with the IMA and has decided to suspend OP services and elective surgeries on Saturday (August 17). Emergency services will continue as usual,” stated A. Lingaiah, director of medical services, Yashoda Hospitals, in a circular. Similar announcements were made by the management of Apollo Hospitals, KIMS Hospitals and Basavatarakam Indo-American Cancer Hospital and Research Institute.

Doctors at Gandhi Hospital continued their protest on Friday. “Why are only doctors across the country protesting? Where is the public outrage? We demand justice for the victim and her family. If necessary, we will escalate the strike, but we will not stop,” said a doctor from Gandhi Hospital, seeking anonymity.

On Friday morning, around 2,500 doctors participated in a rally that began at Osmania Medical College and concluded at Osmania General Hospital. Narender Kumar, principal of Osmania Medical College, said: “There is no place for such horrifying crimes, and as a senior member of the medical faculty, I am deeply disheartened by this incident, especially since it occurred within the premises of the hospital [RG Kar Medical College and Hospital].”