Ahead of the National Doctor’s Day on July 1, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has raised concern over the rising cases of violence against doctors and medical establishments and called for a ‘Central Act to protect doctors while on duty and medical establishments against public outrage.’ The association also called for an increase in allocation to health in the union budget.
According to a press release issued by the IMA, Villupuram branch, Dr. A. Marthanda Pillai, National president and Dr. K.K. Aggarwal, Honorary Secretary General of the IMA have said in a joint statement that the inclusion of medical services under the Consumer Protection Act has ‘threatened’ the ‘integrity and trust in the Doctor-Patient relationship.’
An atmosphere where doctors can practice with peace and dignity, allowing the medical fraternity to ‘put its best foot forward towards providing the best possible healthcare services to the society at large without the fear of assault and harassment’ is required, it said.
The association pointed out health concerns like high maternal mortality and infant mortality rate, and the inability to stop the spread of communicable diseases.
Realistic health policy
It called for a realistic health policy from the government and increasing the allocation to health to at least 2.5 per cent of the GDP in the union budget.
Make health a fundamental right
Dr. R.V.S. Surendran, State president and Dr. C.N. Raja, Honorary State Secretary of the Tamil Nadu IMA State branch have demanded that the Right to Health be made a fundamental right.
The association has directed doctors to participate in the Swachh Bharat Mission, and asked its members to take a pledge reinstating their commitment towards the healthcare of the country.
Calls for a ‘Central Act to protect doctors while on duty and medical establishments against public outrage’ ahead of National Doctors Day
