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Bengal

IMA defers protest on National Medical Commission Bill

Kolkata: The Indian Medical Association on Wednesday called off the aggressive public campaign on the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill , scheduled to take place on Thursday.

The medical association emergency action committee changed its earlier decision about the withdrawal of services on August 8.

IMA in a press release on Wednesday said that they deferred their agitation and health services in the hospitals will function normally on Thursday.

Medical students and resident doctors across the state took a war path and remained adamant with their decision. Ever since the IMA, the largest organisation of doctors in the country spelt out their movement, the doctors in various government hospitals in the state responded to the call.

The doctors from various government hospitals and various organisations of doctors in the state were continuing agitation against the NMC Bill. They took to streets with banners and festoons.

A few days ago, doctors observed a token protest and did not attend the patients in the outpatient departments of various state-run medical colleges in the state inconveniencing patients.

The IMA decided to cancel the withdrawal of health services after a delegation under the leadership of IMA National President, Dr Santanu Sen along with other senior leaders, medical student representatives and junior doctors met with Dr Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare.

In view of the certain clarifications and assurances given by him and considering the prevailing situation in Jammu and Kashmir, heavy flood situation in North East, Karnataka, Maharashtra and other parts of the country as well as untimely sad demise of former Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj, IMA deferred its call for withdrawal of services. The date will be fixed later.

The IMA officials also felt the need for further dialogue and creating awareness about hazards of certain provisions of NMC Bill. IMA has decided an aggressive public campaign against section 32, 50 and 51 which legitimise quackery, capping of fee in undergraduate and post graduate medical education and the lingering uncertainty of the career of medical students.

IMA also appeals to the President of India to withhold assent until the dangers of the bill are adequately addressed.

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