FAIMA urges nationwide solidarity, calls for boycott of elective medical services

All medical associations and resident doctors have been urged by the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) to begin a boycott of elective services on Oct 14.

FAIMA released a statement expressing support for West Bengali doctors who are participating in protests against the Aug rape and killing of a 31-year-old resident doctor at RG Kar Medical College.

"In a post on X, FAIMA said, "We demand action and safety for all healthcare professionals in West Bengal and throughout the country."

In order to "protest against the apathy shown by the West Bengal government towards our colleagues on an indefinite hunger strike for a week," FAIMA called for a statewide boycott of hospital elective services.

According to the statement, "our West Bengali colleagues have protested for safer work conditions for over 65 days."

The organization is urging resident doctors and medical associations across the country to participate in the boycott.

Union Minister of State for Development of the North Eastern Region, Sukanta Majumdar, earlier called on West Bengalis and BJP members to participate in the doctors' protest in huge numbers.

He said that following their meeting with the Chief Minister, the West Bengal administration had made a commitment to address the requests of the doctors, but that commitment has now been broken.

"The West Bengal BJP extends its full support to the Junior Doctor's Front in their agitation against the Mamata Banerjee Govt,” Sukanta Majumdar, West Bengal BJP president, said in a press release.

“The demands made by protesting doctors in the aftermath of the gruesome rape and murder of a lady doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital are legitimate and must be fulfilled," the release added.

"During the meeting with the Chief Minister, the West Bengal government made a commitment to address the demands of the doctors, but they have since broken that promise," he claimed.

He also urged West Bengalis and BJP employees to support the doctors' protest.

"I encourage all BJP Karyakartas to join the doctors' protest in large numbers. I also urge the people of West Bengal to be a part of this movement and get heard. We have to protect our doctors and save Bengal from the dark forces, which are helming the affairs of the state at the moment," he continued.

According to the FAIMA, around 50 senior doctors and faculty members of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital resigned in support of their younger colleagues who are participating in a hunger strike in protest of the rape and killing of a trainee doctor on the premises of the institution in Aug of this year.