IMA CWC demands urgent implementation of their demands

Taking forward from the Dilli Chalo movement, there will be a mass fasting by doctors in India on 2^ndOctober

New Delhi, September 24, 2017: As an outcome of an Action Group meeting, and later ratified by the Central Working Committee meeting the IMA will organize a dawn-to-dusk fast throughout the country on 2 October 2017.

The fast is a move towards drawing the government and people’s attention to the violence in hospitals. Through this peaceful protest, the IMA also aims to reinforce its demand for Central Hospital Protection Act and the implementation of the inter-ministerial committee recommendations, which were a result of two years persistent efforts of IMA with the ministry.

Earlier the Dilli Chalo movement in June this year saw participation by over 100,000 both in person and through digital media. The IMA also initiated a signature campaign on the issues at hand on social media for doctors, to demand justice from the government.

The 218th meeting of IMA’s Central Working Committee (CWC) in New Delhi, on the sidelines of the Centenary Celebrations of Medical Conferences held at The Grand Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, also discussed the status of the demands raised by the IMA as part of the Dilli Chalo campaign.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “The IMA is the only national voluntary organization representing the collective consciousness of doctors of modern scientific system of medicine in the country, with its Headquarters in New Delhi. In line with our resolution of upholding the interest of the medical profession, many issues were raised during the Dilli Chalo movement. The inter-ministerial committee considered our demands. However, the fact is that in medical profession the actions need to be implemented without wait. Violence against doctors continues, rights of the medical fraternity are trampled upon, and there is no action taken towards modifying draconian acts. This meeting is an urgent call for action, and till such time our efforts will not subside.”

The concept of IMA was born out of these conferences in response to a need of a national organization of doctors. A resolution adopted at the 5th All India Medical conference held at Calcutta in the year 1928 led to the formation of an All India Medical Association. The objectives were to improve medical education, promote medical and allied sciences in their different branches and safeguard interests of the medical profession.

Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, said, “This CWC meeting assumes importance as it is a landmark year for the Association and also because it is time to work further to uphold the dignity of this profession. Towards this, on2nd October, all doctors of modern medicine in the country will undertake a dawn to dusk fast in continuation of our Dilli Chalo movement. The fast will be held in Delhi; Sabarmati, Gujarat; and Wardha, Maharashtra.”

Following are the demands of the medical fraternity.