The Resident Doctors Association (RDA) at AIIMS Delhi has announced that they will be providing elective outpatient department (OPD) services today outside Nirman Bhawan, which houses the Union Health Ministry, as part of their ongoing protest against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata on August 9.

The resident doctors have been on an indefinite strike since August 12, suspending all elective and non-essential services, including OPDs and wards, to demand justice for the victim and call for enhanced security measures for medical personnel. As a form of protest, the AIIMS RDA will offer free elective OPD services across approximately 36 specialties to patients outside Nirman Bhawan from 11 a.m. today.

In their efforts to seek justice and improve safety for healthcare workers, the AIIMS RDA has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging his intervention in enacting a central law via an ordinance to protect healthcare workers and institutions nationwide. The doctors also drew attention to the vandalism that occurred at the state-run hospital in Kolkata following the incident and expressed concern over the increasing violence against medical professionals, particularly women, across the country.

The AIIMS Faculty Association has also shown solidarity with the striking doctors by requesting people to wear black rakhis on Raksha Bandhan as a symbol of support for healthcare professionals. Additionally, a group of Padma Awardee doctors has made an urgent appeal to President Droupadi Murmu, seeking immediate intervention in the matter, emphasizing the growing violence against healthcare professionals.

In response to the ongoing strike and demands, the Union Health Ministry assured the protesting doctors last week that all possible efforts would be made to ensure their safety. On August 17, the Ministry announced that it would form a committee to suggest measures for safeguarding healthcare professionals.

The Supreme Court has taken cognizance of the rape-murder case and will hear the matter on Tuesday, with a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud presiding. The case is also being heard by the Calcutta High Court, which has ordered the investigation to be transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), overriding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's August 18 ultimatum to the state police.

The tragic incident occurred on August 9, when the body of the postgraduate trainee doctor was discovered in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The crime has sparked nationwide outrage and protests, leading to the arrest of a civic volunteer the day after the incident.