IMA to flag off the Dilli Chalo movement

• Doctors unified in their stand against the many issues faced by the medical profession
• This huge movement is the need of the hour to urge the government to take strong action

New Delhi, June 02, 2017 : In what will probably be the largest movement against the atrocities faced by the medical profession, the IMA will be organizing the Dilli Chalo movement on 6th June 2017 and has urged the entire medical fraternity to join in large numbers. The Association has already undertaken an intensive month-long campaign to raise awareness on and bring to light the issues faced by the medical profession today. IMA is a unified voice and the collective consciousness of the medical profession in the country.

The medical profession is facing one of the toughest times today. Repeated pleas and appeals by the medical fraternity have not materialized into anything except reassurances time and again, to the extent that states are now coming out with draconian acts like the West Bengal Clinical Establishment Act. It is after having decided that enough is enough that the IMA has given this clarion call, Dilli Chalo.

Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee Dr K K Aggarwal, National President Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA in a joint statement, said, “This is probably one of the toughest phases in the history of medicine. Doctors around the country are agitated and not at mental peace. This is not in the interest of the society. The Protest March will start at 8:00 AM from Rajghat and reach the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium by 11:00 AM. Over 50,000 doctors from all over India will join the movement and a large number will gather in Delhi at the Indira Gandhi Stadium. Doctors from over 50 cities including all the 30 states will be participating in the deliberations at the stadium and the remaining will be connected digitally over a live webcast.”

The last few months have seen several other initiatives by the IMA on this front such as STOP NMC Sathyagraha, two National Protest Days against violence on doctors, NO to NEXT strike in medical colleges, and the National Black Day against West Bengal Clinical Establishments Act. Other than this, 3 action committee meetings and 2 meetings of FOMA were also conducted.

Adding further, Dr Vijay Malhotra, President, DMA and Dr Satish Tyagi, Secretary General, DMA, in a joint statement, said, “This is a peaceful Satyagraha and not a strike. All doctors will gather at Rajghat and start with the blessings of Mahatma Gandhi. Doctors (senior and junior), students, and the entire medical fraternity will participate in the deliberations. There will be three tableaus moving in and around Delhi to create awareness on these issues. The IMA is also initiating a signature campaign on the issues at hand on social media and has urged all doctors to join and collect hundreds of thousands of signatures to demand justice from the government.”

The Dilli Chalo movement aims to address the following demands by the medical fraternity.

• Criminal prosecution of medical negligence and clerical errors
• Stringent central act against violence on doctors
• Capping the compensation in CPA on doctors
• Professional autonomy in treatment and prescriptions
• Amendments in PC PNDT, Central CEA, West Bengal CEA Acts
• No unscientific mixing of systems of medicine
• Empower MBBS graduates
• One drug – One company – One price
• Implement inter-ministerial committee recommendations in six weeks
• Single window accountability
• Single window registration of doctors and medical establishments
• No to NMC: Amend IMC act to maintain professional autonomy
• Uniform final MBBS exam instead of ‘NEXT’
• Uniform service conditions for service doctors & faculty
• Same work – Same pay – Pay parity – No to adhocism
• Fair conduction of NEET exam
• IMA member in every government health committee
• Central anti-quackery law
• Reimbursement of emergency services provided by private sector
• 25000 family medicine PG seats
• Aided hospitals and retainer ship in general practice
• Health budget of 5 % of GDP for universal health coverage