IMA calls for doctors' strike on Thursday

New Delhi: The Indian Medical Association has called for the withdrawal of services of modern medicine doctors of the country for 24 hours from 6 am on Thursday (August 8). The decision was taken at an emergency extended Action Committee meeting of the association convened at the headquarters on Monday. In a statement, the IMA said, "The core concern of the Medical Profession has been left unaddressed in the approved NMC Bill, 2019."

IMA National President Santanu Sen said that the NMC Bill 2019 is "unacceptable to the medical fraternity in the current format". He said, "Licensing community health providers who are connected to modern medicine will only invite a healthcare catastrophe where vulnerable marginalised rural patients will be affected. The Community Health Providers envisaged on NMC Bill 2019 is a direct threat to thousands and thousands of poor vulnerable marginalized rural patients. The Health of the nation is at stake. We demand that the Government of India engage the modern medical fraternity on meaningful dialogue and address the issue urgently."

The IMA said that this would lead to the community practitioner to be available as cheap labour to corporate hospitals as duty doctors, and will work in ICUs, Critical Care Units, Casualties, Emergency Units, Operation Theatres, Wards and OPDs.