Various hospital OPDs in the states of Punjab, Nagaland, and Maharashtra remained shut on July 28, in support of IMA, as a sign of protest against the National Medical Commission Bill.

Punjab- On the call given by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), doctors in many Punjab towns, including Phagwara, Goraya, Phillaur, Banga, Nawanshahr, Noormahal, Nakodar, Apra and Bilga, observed 12 hours strike from 0600 hrs to 1800 hrs on Saturday, in protest against the 'anti-democratic and anti-poor' National Medical Commission Bill, 2017.

The protestors held a protest march in Blood Bank Phagwara and then went to the SDM office. A protest rally was organised, addressed by several senior doctors, including IMA ex-state president SPS Sooch, AS Parhar, S Mahindra, Kailash Kapoor, J S Virk, Vijay Sharma and Gurpreet Kaur.

Terming it a 'Dhikkar Diwas' (Shameful Day), they said the government is going ahead with the enactment of the Bill, despite deep resentment and opposition by medical professionals. They said though all non-emergency services, including the OPD, remained closed for 12 hours, emergency services were provided to the serious patients. The IMA threatened to intensify the stir to defend the autonomy of the medical profession. IMA doctors said the Bill had a draconian character, which would do irreparable damage to the interests of all stakeholders and reduce the down regulatory mechanism.

Nagaland- The state branch of the Indian Medical Association(IMA) has come out strongly against the National Medical Commission Bill along with the amendments thereby proposed by the Centre and moved by before the Lok Sahba. According to a press release issued by the IMA President Dr. Kezevituo Keditsu,the proposed bill by the Government of India has a ‘draconian character which will cause irreparable damage to the interests of all the stakeholders and would reduce down the regularity mechanism to a puppetry with its strings attached to the Government.’

The IMA termed the proposed bill as ‘anti-democratic, anti-federal, anti-backward community students, anti-reservation and a move aimed at centralisation of authority.’ In this connection, the IMA, state branch elaborated listed out point by point ‘the salient damaging features and its harmful character of the proposed bill.

The IMA stated that the proposed bill is ‘anti-democratic’ because ‘the elected representation to nine out of the 29 members of the “National Medical Commission recommended by the Parliamentary committee and elected representation on autonomous boards recommended by Parliamentary Committee will be “rejected by Government.”

It also termed the bill as ‘anti-federal’ because the bill will marginalise the state representation to the extent that ‘once represented for two years, it shall remain unrepresented for ten years.’ It also stated that the representation of universities has been negated, and autonomy of the state medical councils will be compromised as “it will be bound by the directions issued by the Government of India, National Medical Commission and Autonomous Boards.”

The IMA Nagaland state branch also termed the proposed bill as ‘anti-poor and pro-rich’ as the “management quota in private medical colleges and deemed universities will be raised from 15 % to 50 per cent. It also termed the proposed bill as ‘anti-backward community students.’ IT said that the final MBBS examination to be conducted by centralised authority on an All India basis, where the qualifying percentage will be raised from 50per centfrom 40 per cent’ which will result in prejudice towards backward community candidates.

In this regard, the IMA, Nagaland state disclosed about the “2018 NEET results,” community wise who secured more that 50per centmarks: General category 9 per cent; OBC category 6 per cent; SC category 1.92 per cent and ST category 0.62 per cent. Moreover, the release stated that the bill seeks for ‘centralization of authority’ as the Government of India will be vested with powers with regard to all nominations and selections, authority to issue bonding direction and authority of dissolution of commission.

“It is for the protection of legitimate interests of all stakeholders, we call upon your good self to save the country from this cruel initiative that will cripple the entire healthcare delivery system and ruin the modern medicine graduates and postgraduates and dilute the entire medical profession as a whole, the release said.

Nashik- Hospitals in the city of Nashik and in the district remained closed on July 28 to protest against the 'National Medical Commission Bill,' which has been prepared by non-medical agencies and is to be tabled in the Lok Sabha. According to Indian Medical Association (IMA), the organisation called for a nationwide strike to show strong opposition to this Bill. Total 3500 doctors in Nashik city and district joined the nationwide strike on July 28. The outpatients examination of the district has been kept closed by the private doctors in the district.The medical student organization has also supported the strike.

As a result medical colleges were also closed. The Indian medical association has given memorandumto the local member of parliment to demanding opposition to the bill.. The letter also given to MPs about the bills harmful provision have also been attached with the statement along with statement . According to IMA , the provisions made as in the bill are dangerous and irrational and if the bill is passed, it would put adverse effect on the medical field. Consequently, the medical sector in the country would also suffer huge loss. District Civil Hospital and Health Deputy Director have urged the patients to take advantage of this medical service and provide medical facilities to the district hospitals, municipal hospitals and sub-district hospitals in the rural areas, primary health centers.