Over 10,000 members of the medical fraternity from across the country participated in the Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) ‘Dilli Chalo’ protest that was organised on Tuesday.
The doctors went on protest demanding a stringent central Act against violence on doctors, capping the compensation in Consumer Protection Act (CPA) on doctors, professional autonomy in treatment and prescriptions and ‘one drug-one company-one price’ policy.
They also demanded that criminal prosecution for medical negligence and clerical errors be initiated only in exceptional cases.
The protest was the conclusion of a month-long campaign by the IMA, aimed at raising awareness on and bringing to light the issues faced by those in the medical profession. The protesters marched from Rajghat to Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, with many doctors joining the protest over live webcast.
Speaking at the protest, Dr. K. K. Aggarwal, national president of the association said : “ This is one of the toughest times for the medical fraternity. This satyagraha comes after the realisation that enough is enough, and that repeated pleas and appeals by the medical fraternity have yielded nothing but reassurances.”
‘Draconian Acts’
The agitation among doctors has been evident for a long time now. New draconian Acts imposing penal provisions for clerical errors and violations of clauses not linked to medical treatment under the PCPNDT Act and West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act are not in the interest of the profession and therefore, the society at large. The need of the hour is collective action and decision which would do justice to this profession,” Dr. Aggarwal said.
Former president of IMA, Dr. Marthanda Pillai, added that this movement should not be misconstrued as a strike or an agitation of any kind. “Its sole aim is to serve as a wake-up call to the government and take urgent action,” he said.
Doctors noted that this movement should be enough to urge the government to take urgent action failing which the agitation is bound to intensify.
