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Several medical practitioners under the banner of Indian Medical Association’s Goa unit held a two hour long token hunger strike at Raj Bhavan’s main gate in support of their demands including deterrent punishment for violence against the doctors.

The hunger strike which began at 8 am outside the main gate of Raj Bhavan near here culminated after presenting memorandum to Governor Mridula Sinha listing out all the demands pressed by the IMA as a part of its nationwide protests. IMA Goa President Medha Salkar in a memorandum to the Governor has said that all the 1,500 doctors affiliated to the association have resolved that “time has come for the Prime Minister of India to intervene to resolve the issues faced by the medical professionals.”

The memorandum has demanded that central government should strictly implement the Act to tackle violence against medical professionals on duty. The IMA also demanded to stop criminal prosecution for minor medical negligence and clerical errors. Salkar said the compensation to be paid by doctors in the cases under the Consumer Protection Act should be capped. “There should be professional autonomy for the doctors in treatment and giving the prescription to the patients,” she said.