Mumbai, Bhopal Doctors Support Delhi Doctors Over NEET Protests; Shutdown Of Healthcare Services?

Various associations of resident doctors or Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs) will be conducting a complete shutdown of all medical services across the country, starting 8 am on December 29, 2021, as a protest against the police brute force used by Delhi Police on protesting resident doctors in Delhi.

It started with the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) calling for a complete suspension of medical services by resident doctors in Delhi, starting Wednesday, followed by resident doctors and associations across the country.

Why Are RDAs Protesting?

Members of the Resident Doctors’ Associations have been protesting in the national capital and other states since a month, demanding expediting the declaration of NEET PG 2021 counselling schedule, which has been delayed.

On Dec 27, there was a clash between the police and the doctors protesting on the road.

As per a statement by the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), the resident doctors were protesting peacefully when the Delhi Police brutally thrashed and Lathicharged the resident doctors. They also alleged male Police personnel ‘dragging and inappropriately touching female doctors.’

Delhi Police Files FIR

On the other hand, the Delhi Police has lodged an FIR on the charges of rioting, causing obstruction in duty of police personnel, and damaging public property, against the doctors. 

In a press release dated Dec 28, 2021, FAIMA wrote,

“This is to inform that the medical fraternity stands absolutely shocked at the sheer display of unprovoked brute force by Delhi police on our colleague who have been peacefully protesting in Delhi and many other states since the last month, with their genuine demand for the immediate declaration of NEET PG 2021 counselling schedule. However the lathicharge on our resident doctors and manhandling of many female residents by the male police personnel during their peaceful demonstration is a pathetic display of the shameless attitude of the authorities, who we could believe would stoop so low.”

It has called for a complete withdrawal from all healthcare services across the country from 8 am on December 29.

Doctors from different regions of the country, UP, Maharashtra,  and Chandigarh, demonstrated their support for the event that transpired on Dec 27.