Everyone has right to access care: IMA condemns attack on docs, nurses visiting JNU to treat injured

The Indian Medical Association condemned the violence against doctors and nurses who were attacked while they rushed to tend to those injured during the attacks at JNU. Videos and pictures of a damaged ambulance surfaced yesterday and doctors claimed that they had been attacked as they made their way to the campus. 

The IMA stated that doctors and nurses have the right of way to treat the injured and everyone has a right to life and access to care. 

"The situation in the country smacks of total anarchy and breakdown of law and order is complete. If doctors and nurses are not safe in the capital of the country it speaks volumes about the governance and lack of it. Time has come for the medical fraternity to devise its own arrangement for self-defense. How does it reflect on the nation, if it cannot protect its doctors and nurses reached out to the injured?" the IMA asked in its statement. 

Demanding that the Union Health Ministry condemn the event and ensure safety and security of doctors and nurses, the IMA accused the Home Ministry of not doing enough to protect them. "IMA points out to the conscious decision of the Home Ministry to block the central law against violence on doctors and hospitals. We wish the concerns of the Home Ministry were bonafide given the nature of violence that has happened in the capital city inside a prestigious institution like JNU," the IMA wrote in a statement signed by Dr Rajan Sharma, National President of the IMA and Dr RV Asokan, the Home Secretary General, IMA. 

"IMA reiterates its stand that doctors and nurses have the right of way to treat the injured and everyone has the right to life and access to care. IMAHQ directs its Delhi State branch DMA to react strongly and take appropriate action in this regard," they added.