Doctors stage protest at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital

Call for a tough law to protect medical professionals.

Members of the Coimbatore Branch of Indian Medical Association and Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association staging a protest at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital on Friday.

As many as 100 doctors and 50 medicos staged a protest at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) on Friday to condemn violence against doctors.

The protest, jointly organised by the Coimbatore Branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA), and Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association (TNGDA), was in response to the call for a nationwide protest by IMA to express solidarity with the doctors protesting in West Bengal following the assault on junior doctors at the NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Monday.

The protest began around 9 a.m. with doctors and medicos sporting black badges and raising slogans demanding a “uniform nationwide law” to protect medical professionals across the country. Speaking to the media after the protests, N. Ravishankar, District President, TNGDA, said laws must be made strict against those indulging in violence against doctors.

M. Mariappan, President of IMA’s Coimbatore Branch, told

The Hindu that the medical services at the hospital would not be affected due to the protest. Calling for a tough law to protect doctors, Dr. Mariappan said that students pursuing medicine may look for alternative professions if violence against doctors continues abated. In a press release, IMA's Coimbatore Branch said that the “2,500 local branches” of IMA will send an appeal for a “central law against hospital violence” to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister. “The organisation is ready for an agitation to press for strong legislation and strict action against hospital violence,” the release said.