Doctors of several hospitals and medical colleges in Odisha joined the nationwide strike demanding justice for the RG Kar rape and murder victim.

The health services in the state were severely hit on Saturday because of the strike. Most of the hospitals refused to admit new patients.

“We are working in the emergency wards. Services like OPD have been hit. We need protection. Our dignity should be protected,” the agitating doctors said, adding that several surgeries and laboratory services have been hit in both the government and private hospitals.

“We want the implementation of the central protection act which protects doctors against crimes and violence,” they added.

Expressing his solidarity with the agitating doctors, eminent sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik on Saturday created a sand art on the Puri beach urging people to stop violence against doctors.

Union minister for parliamentary affairs Kiren Rijiju, who was in Bhubaneswar on Saturday, said: “Because of the incident that happened in Bengal, the safety of the medical staff is a matter of concern. It’s not just about the medical fraternity of the doctors and nurses. This is a nationwide issue. It’s a security and a big issue in the society. It is a matter of concern for everyone… the public is also agitated.”

The ongoing protest at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, against the alleged rape and murder of RG Kar junior doctor entered the sixth day.

“Two rallies were organised on Saturday, both of which were met with overwhelming support from our nursing students and staff. Their solidarity reinforces the shared commitment across the entire medical community to stand together in pursuit of justice and fair treatment,” said a media release issued by the Resident Doctors’ Association, AIIMS Bhubaneswar.

The general body meeting of AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, passed a resolution to continue the strike with even greater determination. “We will not waver in our resolve until our voices are heard, and our demands are met with the seriousness they deserve,” the association said.

The ongoing strike has badly affected medical services in AIIMS. On each day, it registers nearly 5,000 patients, but the number has drastically come down. “We know the patients are facing serious problems because of the strike. But we are undone. We need protection,” said a senior resident doctor of AIIMS.

Odisha health minister Mukesh Mahalinga said: “Doctors’ safety is one of our priorities. Our government is committed to giving them protection and safety. We are in touch with the doctors and urged them to join the duty.”

Bihar extends support

Medical services were hit across Bihar on Saturday as doctors joined the protest against the alleged rape and murder of the RG Kar junior doctor last week.

The strike, however, did not affect emergency services. “The strike which began today at 6am will continue for 24 hours. During this period, there will be no routine OPDs or elective surgery,” said IMA Bihar chapter’s chief patron Sahajanand Prasad Singh.

He, however, made it clear that “all essential services will be maintained and casualties will be manned” at hospitals across the state during the period of the strike called in protest against the horrific incident that took place inside a medical college of the eastern metropolis.

Besides the state capital where patients from across Bihar are referred to hospitals such as AIIMS, IGIMS and PMCH, reports of health services being hit have come from districts such as Purnea and Begusarai.

Although no untoward incident was reported from anywhere in Bihar, doctors unequivocally condemned the incident in the Bengal capital and sought adequate safety for medical professionals, especially women.

Additional reporting by PTI