The Medico Friend Circle (MFC), a collective of health professionals, activists, and researchers, has issued a powerful statement condemning the heinous incident of rape and murder of a young trainee at R G Kar Medical College in the state of West Bengal. Expressing deep outrage, the group extended their condolences to the victim’s family and solidarity to the institution’s residents and healthcare staff in their pursuit of justice. Notably, the doctors in Kolkata, as well as across India, are protesting against the broken system in state as well as in the centre to demand justice. The detailed story may be read here.
The statement highlights the urgent need for enhanced safety measures across healthcare facilities, calling for secure environments in hospitals, on-call rooms, and hostels. It has been stressed upon by the MFC in its statement that quality patient care is intrinsically linked to the well-being of healthcare workers, who must be protected from physical harm and harassment.
The statement also underscored the broader systemic issues contributing to violence within the healthcare sector, including patriarchal, caste-based, and capitalist structures. They pointed out the persistent sexual harassment faced by junior doctors, nurses, and paramedical staff, and called for the immediate implementation of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace Act across all medical institutions.
Furthermore, MFC emphasised the need to protect patients from violence, particularly women and those of non-heteronormative gender identities, who are often vulnerable to abuse in clinical settings. The statement concluded by linking the violence in healthcare to a wider societal issue, rooted in deep-seated oppression and the breakdown of the doctor-patient relationship, aggravated by inadequate investment in health.
The Medico Friend Circle’s statement is a clarion call for a safer, more humane healthcare system that prioritises the dignity and security of both healthcare workers and patients.
The complete statement can be read here: