More than two dozen doctors in India have been on an indefinite hunger strike for nearly two weeks, part of nationwide protests demanding a safer work environment following the rape and killing of a medical resident in August.
Six of the protesting doctors have been subsisting only on water and have been hospitalized for care, according to a doctors’ group formed after the incident. At least two of them are reported to be in critical condition.
The body of the female doctor was discovered on August 9 in a seminar room at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where she was completing her residency. Reports indicate she suffered multiple injuries, including a broken neck. Due to privacy laws concerning sexual assault victims in India, her name cannot be published.
The incident has shocked the nation, where violence against women is a persistent issue, and has mobilized thousands of doctors who are demanding a thorough investigation and justice for the victim. They are also advocating for improved safety measures in government hospitals, where resident doctors frequently endure long shifts.
An investigation initiated by the West Bengal government has been transferred to a federal agency, but progress has reportedly been slow, according to Dr. Sunanda Ghosh of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, an organization established after the killing.
The urgency of the protests has intensified in recent weeks, with doctors nationwide highlighting systemic issues in government-run hospitals, including corruption.
Dr. Ghosh noted that the victim was outspoken about corruption in her workplace and emphasized the need to uncover the true motive behind her murder.
In Kolkata, 14 doctors began hunger strikes this month, with others participating in cities like Lucknow. Some doctors have engaged in relay fasting, taking turns during their shifts.
In West Bengal, resident doctors are calling for the removal of senior health officials and increased police protection in medical colleges to safeguard against assaults from disgruntled patients' relatives.
Many doctors are also focusing on issues of institutionalized corruption, particularly regarding the selection process for competitive residency programs, and have expressed frustration over vacant positions in hospitals that contribute to their heavy workloads.
Divyansh Singh, a medical resident in Lucknow, recently completed a 66-hour hunger strike. He remarked on the lack of effective security measures in medical colleges, noting an increase in assaults on doctors in the past two months. “We will continue to demand justice, come what may,” he stated.