On 6th June 2017, Over 70,000 doctors joined a protest by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), demanding among others a stringent law to curb increasing cases of violence against them by kin of patients. This affected services in some of the private hospitals at New Delhi. The protest was named IMAs Dilli Chalo movement. It started from Rajghat and ended at Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. Many joined the march digitally over a live webcast.
The protest involved the representatives of national medical associations such as:
- Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecological Societies of India (FOGSI),
- Association of Physicians of India (API) and
- the Cardiological Society of India (CSI).
Pravin Togadia, Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) International Working President was also present at the event. he demanded withdrawal of the Central Clinical Establishment Act (CCEA) which deprived 2/3 of patients from medical treatment and may result in close down of private clinics.
Although, the emergency services in all the hospitals were open. The out-patient department (OPDs) at some private hospitals remained closed till 2 pm. Further, at some of the hospitals online/telephonic appointments were taken while walk-in patients were provided consultations.
What Doctors Demanded?
- A stringent central law to stop violence on doctors,
- professional autonomy in treatment and prescriptions and
- amendments in certain Acts like:
- Pre- Conception, Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique Act (PC-PNDT) and
- the CCEA and
- the West Bengal CEA Act.
- single window registration of doctors and medical establishments,
- uniform service conditions for service doctors and faculty,
- uniform final MBBS exam instead of “NEXT”,
- fair conduction of NEET exam and
- central anti-quackery law.
Also, IMA has launched a signature campaign over the issue on social media. It has urged doctors across the country to collect thousands of signatures that would be sent to the Centre for seeking action.