CHENNAI/ VELLORE/K’GIRI/ COIMBATORE/ TIRUCHY/ PUDUCHERRY: In response to the Indian Medical Association’s call to protest against the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor in Kolkata, doctors and medical students across the state held demonstrations on Saturday. Private hospitals and individual practitioners fully suspended outpatient services, while government hospital doctors boycotted OP services for an hour.
Doctors, who were in government hospitals, also wore black bands or badges in protest. “Both government and private doctors supported the protest across the state. Usually, outpatient services are suspended for 12 hours during protests, but this is the first time they were suspended for 24 hours,” said Dr TN Ravishankar of IMA.
In Vellore, government doctors protested outside the Adukkamparai Government College and Hospital. They called for better accommodation and security for government doctors, especially for those working on night duty. In Tiruchy, doctors wore black badges.
More than 800 people took part in the protest at CMCH. In Krishnagiri, the protest was held at Government Krishnagiri Medical College Hospital and St Peter’s Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, the protests entered the fourth day with the JIPMER Resident Doctors Association saying that the agitation will continue until the health ministry enacts Act.
