India’s medical professionals initiated a nationwide strike on Saturday in response to the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a government hospital in West Bengal.
The Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest group of doctors, organized the strike, shutting down all non-essential hospital services across India for a full day. This action has impacted countless patients, and protests, predominantly driven by women, have escalated in recent days, calling for a safer working environment.
The trainee doctor’s lifeless body, found on August 9, was discovered by police in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. A volunteer police officer associated with the hospital has been arrested in connection with the incident. However, the victim’s family claims that the crime was a gang rape, suggesting that multiple individuals were involved, with an autopsy confirming sexual assault. Federal investigators are now looking into the case after allegations of mishandling by state officials surfaced.
On Wednesday night, thousands of women took to the streets in various cities for “Reclaim The Night” marches, demanding justice for the victim. Some demonstrators urged that those responsible for the heinous act face the death penalty.
Medical workers across India are now raising their voices for justice for the victim and calling for enhanced safety measures for doctors and paramedics in hospitals. Many healthcare professionals have limited their services to emergency cases, with plans for additional strikes over the weekend.
Doctors emphasize that this assault highlights the precarious situation of healthcare workers operating without adequate safety measures in medical facilities throughout the country. The Indian Medical Association is seeking public backing in its “struggle for justice,” labeling the killing as a “crime of barbaric scale” exacerbated by the absence of secure environments for women. They are also advocating for tougher legislation to safeguard medical personnel from violence, including the imposition of non-bailable offenses for attacks on on-duty workers.
Sexual violence against women remains a significant issue in India, with many incidents going unreported due to social stigma and a lack of trust in law enforcement. Activists highlight that this challenge is particularly severe in rural regions, where victims often face community shaming, and families fear for their reputation. Despite the societal pressures, the number of reported rape cases has risen, with police records indicating 31,516 incidents in 2022—a 20 percent increase from the previous year, according to the National Crime Records Bureau.