Doctors say ‘Today us, tomorrow you’ as protest intensifies on 3rd day

New Delhi: Even though one of the associations called off the strike late on Tuesday night following Union Health Minister JP Nadda's verbal assurance that the government would consider a Central law for the protection of healthcare workers, resident doctors in several government-run hospitals in different states refused to return to work for the third day on Wednesday.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) reports that more than 3 lakh resident and junior physicians joined up for the indefinite strike call. “Over 150 resident doctors’ associations have joined us in this protest today. We will not bow down till our demand for a Central law for protecting healthcare workers is not accepted,” FAIMA founder Dr Manish Jangra told this newspaper.

At multiple AIIMS, medical professionals staged processions, formed human chains, raised slogans, held placards, and demanded justice. One placard read “Today us, tomorrow you,” and another, “No safety, No duty.” Notably several women doctors came out in large numbers waving posters that read “We want to be safe, not to be raped” and “Stop violence against doctors.”

West Bengal was the most severely affected state, with no healthcare services provided at all. In the protest, senior physicians accompanied their juniors, the New Indian Express reported.

The Indian Medical Association's (IMA) National President, Dr. RV Asokan, claims that there has been “no gesture or even a response from the government that they are going to take steps to ensure the security of the doctors. How can I ask my young boys and girls to return to duty in such a situation? Nothing has been done so far, and the government has given no guarantee. In such a scenario, the strike will go on.”

A blood donation camp was held by Bangalore's NIMHANS. Faculty members at AIIMS, Rae Bareli, demonstrated their disapproval by donning black bands. Nursing personnel of Kakatiya Medical College in Warangal, Telangana, participated in the march in support of resident physicians. Faculty members of AIIMS, Delhi, attended the protest march and released a statement in support of their junior colleague.