Indian Medical Association is observing a nationwide protest today to condemn the recent atrocities against doctors in West Bengal.

In a statement released by the IMA, the premier medical association has said that it was worried over the brutal violence on Dr Paribha Mukherjee at NRS Medical College in Kolkata. Even the World Medical Association has passed a resolution against violence on healthcare centers and called for bringing strong legislation.

In view of the many cases of violence against the doctors, IMA has demanded for a national law against hospital violence that provided minimum seven years imprisonment for perpetrators of hospital violence. It suggested that the law would ensure cases are registered and culprits are arrested and convicted. It has also demanded for the hospitals to be declared special zones and the state to provide security to them.

Friday is marked as the black day, when doctors will wear black badges and hold protests at the headquarters of the state units. All 2,500 local branches will email an appeal for a Central law against hospital violence to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union Home Minister, Amit Shah.

This is a matter of serious concern as threat of violence against healthcare workers will not only increase their stress level but also affect their sound judgment regarding patient care and treatment which may be compromised in such cases.