IMA calls off strike as activists surrender in doctor assault

Hours after launching a 24-hour shutdown of outpatient services, doctors in Karnataka on Friday called off the protest over assault of a colleague as members of a pro-Kannada outfit allegedly involved in the recent incident surrendered before the police.

Doctors affiliated to the Karnataka chapter of the Indian Medical Association commenced the shutdown of Out Patient Department (OPD) services in their hospitals and nursing homes at 6 am in response to the call by the body to protest the assault of a colleague in a government eye hospital.

The protest affected people with minor complications in getting medical assistance and junior doctors in government hospitals too joined the strike, burdening the seniors.

However, citing the surrender of the accused, the IMA announced withdrawal of the strike which was to have continued till 6 AM on Saturday.

"After the group which assaulted a doctor surrendered to the police, we have decided to call off our strike. The OPD will be operational in all the hospitals," IMA Karnataka Secretary Dr Srinivasa S said.

The IMA has given the call in support of the Minto Hospital junior doctors on a strike since Friday last demanding the arrest of the KarnatakaRakshana Vedike (KRV) members who had allegedly assaulted one of their colleagues.

The KRV members have alleged proper compensation was not given to the victims of an alleged botched cateract surgery drive in July this year.

A few people had lost their vision partially due to a drug reaction.

Meanwhile, doctors of the Minto hospital too called off their strike after authorities during talks held with them agreed to enhance security and install CCTV cameras in all government hospitals.

Dr C R Jayanthi, dean of the Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), under which the Minto hospital functions, announced the breakthrough.