Kolkata doctor’s rape-murder: OPD services shut at hospital across Karnataka

BENGALURU: In response to a call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), outpatient department (OPD) services in hospitals across the state were affected on Saturday as doctors staged a countrywide protest against the brutal rape and murder of a post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Outpatient department services are shut from 6 am on Saturday till 6 am on Sunday. However, emergency services will be available.

Hundreds of doctors also assembled at the IMA state unit office in Chamarajpet and staged a protest. They later presented a memorandum to the Bengaluru Urban district deputy commissioner seeking justice for the Kolkata doctor and protection for them at work. Government doctors too have extended support to the protest.

Patients registering at the OPD at Bowring Hospital.

Those participating in the protest include private hospitals affiliated to PHANA, the government doctors’ association, paediatricians’ association, orthopaedics’ association and the medical college doctors’ association.

Emergency services were available at KC General Hospital.

At Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in the city, patients were seen registering at the OPD, but were told to come on Sunday due to the doctors’ protest. At KC General Hospital too the OPD was shut and only emergency services were available. A large number of patients, many from different parts of the state, were also seen in front of the OPD at Victoria Hospital. They were told by the security guards that doctors will not be available today on account of the protest.

The OPD at Victoria Hospital was also shut.

Meanwhile, there was some confusion as the Health Department had directed that no leave would be granted to doctors on Saturday. Doctors were not sure whether they had to sign in at work and then take part in the protest as normally, the OPDs are open from 9 am to 4 pm.