The deadlock continues between protesting resident doctors and state and local health authorities, as the doctors refuse to call off their strike demanding better security at public hospitals and a central law with strict penalties for those who commit violence against healthcare workers.

The wave of strikes and protests erupted across the city and the country in response to the rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata. Dr Pratik Debaje, president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), voiced concern over the lack of clear guidelines from state authorities on how security at state-run public hospitals will be strengthened. “We have also not received any immediate action plans from hospitals in response to the strike,” he said.