Udaipur, October 21, 2024 – Resident doctors of RNT Medical College, Udaipur, have gone on strike affecting services at six major hospitals affiliated with the College. Starting Monday, October 21, 558 resident doctors started their strike in support of the protesting doctors of Kolkata following the August 9, 2024, rape and murder of a 31-year old female postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city.

The strike has completely disrupted hospital operations, leading to long queues of patients in the Out Patient Department. Senior doctors are trying to manage the patient rush, but the absence of resident doctors has resulted in long queues. On October 21, about 70 surgeries, both minor and major, had to be postponed.

According to sources, 260 senior doctors and 40 senior resident doctors from RNT Medical College and its associated hospitals have tried to manage the situation. However, patient care in the wards has now largely fallen to nursing staff. There has also been an increase in seasonal diseases like dengue, malaria and chikungunya in the city. So far, around 1,000 dengue patients have been reported in the district, with cases of malaria and chikungunya also rising rapidly. This situation has posed an additional challenge for senior doctors in view of the current strike.

On October 20, the resident doctors at RNT protested outside MB Hospital, calling for better safety measures for healthcare workers and stringent action against the perpetrators of Kolkata rape. This strike has spread throughout the state, with resident doctors from other medical colleges also expressing their support.

Sources say the government must take swift action in this matter to prevent any further crisis in medical services here.