IMA wants Central Act to combat violence against doctors and their medical establishments

Urge Central Government to enact to prevent violence against doctors and medical establishments

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has expressed concern about the recent incidents of assault on doctors as well as kidnapping of doctors.

Recently, the medical profession has seen doctors being abducted.  Dr R B Choudhury of Gumla District of Jharkhand was kidnapped from his clinic on April 30, 2015 and was found dead on May 4, 2015. Another doctor, Dr Pankaj Gupta from Bihar was also kidnapped on May 1 along with his wife; the couple is still untraceable.

Addressing a press conference, Prof (Dr) A Marthanda Pillai, National President IMA and Dr KK Aggarwal, Secretary General, IMA, in a joint, said that governments of 18 states have passed ordinances (Prevention of Violence and Damages or Loss of Property) against the violence on doctors and medical establishments. They also urged the central government to enact the same. IMA is preparing a draft Bill for the submission to the Government of India to enact the same at the earliest.

IMA is urging that the cases should be handled on high priority and investigation should be handed over to the Crime Branch/CBI.

Doctors in Jharkhand and Bihar have gone on strike and are protesting on the roads.

IMA also informed that they will be forced to go on a nationwide agitation and protest, if the above cases are not solved and the Central Act is not enacted by the government.