Health Bulletin 11/ September/ 2024

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board, MARB, National Medical Commission, NMC, MBBS, Letter of Permission, LoP admission at 44 new medical colleges and allowed an increase of MBBS seats in altogether 19 existing medical colleges for the academic year 2024-25.

Among these 44 new medical colleges, 24 medical colleges have received the NMC permission for 50 MBBS seats, 11 medical colleges have received permission for 100 MBBS seats and 9 medical colleges have been granted permission for 150 MBBS seats each.

Junior doctors in West Bengal have decided to continue their ‘cease work’ in protest against the brutal rape and murder of a postgraduate medico at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, despite the Supreme Court’s directive to end their protest by 5 pm on Tuesday.

According to the PTI report, demanding the resignation of the state’s health secretary and director of health education (DHE), the striking medics said that they would also take out a rally to ‘Swasthya Bhavan’ – the headquarters of the health department in Salt Lake – on Tuesday noon.

When the entire country is in turmoil demanding justice in the case of brutal rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, the safety of female doctors at hospitals has once again come into question as a junior resident doctor from the Oncology Department at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Ranchi recently became the victim of molestation inside a hospital lift when she was on her way for duties at the hospital.

The accused in this case is a patient who is alleged to have sexually assaulted the doctor and used inappropriate language to intimidate her while she was heading to her duties in the oncology department. He was caught and sent to the Bariatu police station for further probe.

Women Assaulted a Doctor On Duty, Hospital Staff Shut Down OPD Services in Protest

Doctors and staff at a District Hospital in Karnataka staged a protest on Tuesday by closing the outpatient department after a female relative of a patient allegedly threw a footwear at a physician. The incident occurred when Dr. Venkatesh B.S. was treating an injured patient in the emergency unit. A group of the patient’s relatives gathered, creating a disturbance. When the doctor requested that everyone except the patient leave, an argument broke out. One of the patient’s relatives allegedly threw her footwear at the doctor and grabbed him by the collar.

In response, hospital staff and doctors protested by shutting down the OPD and gathered outside the district surgeon’s office, demanding the immediate arrest of those involved in the assault. BJP MLC C.T. Ravi shared a video of the incident on ‘X’ and called for the immediate arrest of the attackers. He urged Home Minister G. Parameshwara and DGP Alok Mohan to take swift action to protect medical staff and ensure a safe work environment.

R G Kar authorities issue notices to 51 doctors and students for ‘promoting intimidation culture’

Through a recent notice, the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital authorities have summoned 51 doctors, house staff and interns from several departments and professors to appear before the Enquiry Committee on September 11 regarding allegations of threat culture against the juniors.

These medical professionals have been accused of engaging in behaviour that promotes a culture of intimidation, endangering the democratic atmosphere of the institution. As a result, they have been sent notices to present themselves to defend their innocence. Meanwhile, the authorities have also prohibited the 51 doctors from accessing the campus and have restricted their involvement in college activities.

For more details, click the link below

Threat Culture Allegations: 51 doctors, students summoned by RG Kar Medical College authorities