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OPDs in India to remain shut on July 31 in protest against Medical Bill

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IANS    31 July 2019

On Wednesday, July 31, 2019, OPDs in government hospitals across the country will be shut as part of protests against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill which the doctors feel will encourage quacks.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called for a nationwide 24-hour withdrawal of non-essential services, as a mark of protest against the Bill which was passed in the Lok Sabha on Monday. Protests and hunger strikes will be held in all states. The IMA has also asked medical students to boycott classes in unity.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) and the Resident Doctors Association (RDA), AIIMS, have also asked members to wear black badges showing their protest.

An RDA statement said, that the Bill if not revised will only lead to a deterioration in the standards in medical education but will also lead to degradation of healthcare services.

The non-essential services including OPDs will be shut from 6 a.m. from Wednesday till 6 a.m. on Thursday. Emergency, casualty, ICU and related services will function as usual.

R.V. Asokan, Secretary General, IMA, said that section 32 of the NMC Bill will provide license for 3.5 lakh unqualified non-medical persons to practice modern medicine. The term Community Health Provider has been unclearly defined to allow anyone connected with modern medicine to get registered in NMC and be licensed to practice modern medicine. This means that all paramedics including pharmacists, nurses, physiotherapists, optometrists and others would become eligible to practice modern medicine and prescribe independently. He further said that this law is legalizing quackery.

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