PANJIM: Doctors and other health workers from across the State on Saturday held a protest meet at Azad Maidan, Panjim followed by a silent march in solidarity with 24 hours nationwide strike call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and other organisations.
Doctors demanded speedy justice to the Kolkata doctor, who was raped and murdered in gruesome manner and most severe punishment to the extent of capital punishment to
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the culprits.
They also demanded declaring of hospitals as safe zones, amendment to Goa Medical Act, fast track disposal of cases of violence against doctors, sensitisation of law enforcement towards problems faced by health care workers, constitution of a District Task Force and reviewing of medical facilities in government hospitals.
The 24-hour protest commenced at 6 am and will continue till 6 am on Sunday. Earlier, doctors, including resident doctors of GMC, took out a morcha in the city demanding justice to the victims.
Simultaneously, doctors at South Goa District Hospital, Margao and the Sub-District Hospital at Chicalim observed a one-minute silence in solidarity with the victim, calling for immediate justice.
“We are aghast and dismayed at increase of crimes against medical professionals across the country, the doctors said, demanding justice to the 31-year-old victim from Kolkata.
A delegation of IMA, Goa State branch headed by president Dr Sandesh Chodankar, Bicholim MLA Dr Chandrakant Shetye, Dr Shekhar Salkar and Dr Rajashree Marathe met Chief Minister Pramod Sawant and appealed to him for strict civil and judicial reforms to curb violence and crime against medical professional in the State.
The IMA has urged Sawant to review medical facilities across the State for workplace security and safety of healthcare professionals, and rectification and amendments in laws and guidelines for governing the safety of medical professionals. They have also asked for sensitisation of law enforcement agencies on medical legal jurisprudence and safety of medical professionals, provision to fast-track cases of violence and crimes against medical professionals, and to constitute district-level special Task Force under the police department for handling crimes and violence against medical professionals in the State. On the other hand, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant strongly condemned the shameful mishandling of the horrific incident at R G Kar Hospital in Kolkata by the West Bengal government.
“It is an eye opener. The act is condemnable. I also condemn West Bengal Chief Minister (Mamata Banerjee) who being a woman Chief Minister failed to protect a woman doctor. West Bengal government failed to act swiftly. We are committed to ensure a safe and respectful environment for our doctors and women,” Sawant said and added that he was hopeful that the victim will get justice from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBl).
Referring to the memorandum submitted to him by the IMA, Goa State branch, the Chief Minister said that a workshop will be conducted soon to sensitise officials of the home department and the government will review the medical facilities across the State for workplace security and safety of healthcare professionals.
