Doctors to boycott OP clinics today

Led by Indian Medical Association (IMA), doctors in the health service will boycott outpatient clinics in government hospitals across the country on Saturday in protest against the Centre's stance of going ahead with the enactment of the National Medical Bill (NMB, 2017).

"IMA, fully conscious of its responsibility towards the generations of doctors to come, is withdrawing non-emergency medical services across the country on Saturday, July 28, 2018 from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.," it said in a release.

The "Dhikkar Diwas" (shameful day) os being observed as part of the nationwide protest against the Bill.

On Saturday, all non-emergency services including OPD would remain closed for the 12 hours. However, critical services including deliveries, emergencies and in-patient care would be provided, the doctors' association said.

IMA National President Ravi Wankhedkar said they have made the world know of their opposition still the government is proceeding to decide how the medical profession of the country will be governed, which is completely unacceptable.

IMA pointed out that implementing the medical bill would pave way for corruption.

"The Bill has a draconian character which will cause irreparable damage to the interests of all the stakeholders and would reduce down regulatory mechanism to a puppetry with its strings attached to the government," the release said.

When the central government made attempts to implement the bill in the Parliament, it was stalled following the doctors' protest. However, they came forward with the second phase of protest amidst reports of the bill being tabled in the Lok Sabha.