Report: John Wilbert
Port Blair, August 17, 2024: Health workers across the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, including those from the Directorate of Health Services, private hospitals, and clinics, observed a one-day pen-down strike today. The strike was part of a nationwide call to action by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) following the tragic incident of the alleged rape and murder of a woman trainee doctor at a state-run hospital in Kolkata.
In solidarity with their colleagues across the country, healthcare workers in the islands wore black ribbons as a symbol of protest. Despite the strike, doctors and healthcare workers ensured that emergency cases were attended to, with all critical services operating smoothly.
The strike in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was reported to have been conducted peacefully, with no incidents of unrest. Healthcare workers participated in the protest to demand stronger protections for those in the medical profession and justice for the victim in Kolkata.
The nationwide protests come amid escalating tensions across the country. In response to the outrage, the government announced that heads of health institutions would now be required to file an FIR within six hours of any incident of violence against a healthcare worker on duty. This move is seen as an effort to provide greater safety for those in the medical field, who are increasingly facing violence in the line of duty.
In other parts of India, non-emergency and outpatient department (OPD) services were significantly disrupted, particularly in Delhi, where major hospitals have seen services impacted for five consecutive days. Resident doctors in several cities took to the streets in protest, demanding a central law to protect healthcare workers.
The health workers in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands have expressed their unwavering support for their fellow healthcare professionals across the country and have called for swift justice for the victim of the Kolkata incident.
