July 1 is celebrated as ‘National Doctors’ Day’ and the Indian Medical Association will organize a mass awareness program on the need to end violence against doctors.

In view of recent nationwide strike by medical practitioners against assault on doctors which had stalled the normal health care services, this step from IMA assumes special significance.  The doctors were protesting against assault on their colleagues in West Bengal by relatives of a patient who died during treatment.

The IMA has planned to organize the program in its 1, 700 branches spread across the country involving different sections of the society.

The premier medical body had demanded that the government should declare hospitals as ‘safe zones’ and should put in place three-layered security, install CCTV cameras and restrict visitors.

It should not be forgotten that the fear of violence is still present in medical colleges and major hospitals. All the local branches and individual members of IMA have sent an appeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding enactment of a central legislation to check violence against the medical fraternity.

The theme for IMA for this year is ‘Safety in Hospitals Is Everyone’s Concern. Say No To Violence.’ IMA national president Santanu Sen will inaugurate the program at the IMA headquarters in Delhi on July 1.The day also marks the birth and death anniversary of the doyen of medical profession, Dr Bidhan Roy.