Satara doctor suicide: IMA Maharashtra condemns death of woman doc, writes to CM

The Indian Medical Association IMA Maharashtra on Friday strongly condemned the Satara doctors suicide and wrote a letter to CM Devendra Fadnavis demanding justice and reforms in the health sectorA young government hospital doctor on Thursday committed suicide in Satara district of MaharashtraThe 28yearold doctor was found dead in a hotel room in Phaltan town late on Thursday night In a suicide note written on her palm the physician posted in Satara district in western Maharashtra accused police official of rape and mental harassment the police saidIn a letter addressed to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on October 24 the IMA expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the incident calling it ldquoa reflection of the psychological administrative and moral strainrdquo faced by doctors across Maharashtra particularly those in rural and peripheral hospitalsThe IMA Maharashtra has called for urgent justice accountability and reforms to protect doctors working in challenging conditionsThe letter alleged that the deceased doctor was posted at the SubDistrict Hospital in Phaltan area of Satara and she was reportedly subjected to sustained mental and physical harassment despite reaching out to senior officials and police for helpAccording to the association she had even filed an RTI application to inquire about the inaction on her complaintsThe IMA further in the letter stated that her death highlights a serious failure of administrative response and demanded that those responsible be held accountableIt urged the government to take firm transparent and timebound action to restore confidence among the medical communityThe association has put forward several key demands including1 Immediate suspension and arrest of the police and administrative personnel named in the complaint followed by a judicially monitored inquiry2 Accountability of health officials who ignored her complaints3 Establishment of a Statewide Mental Health and Grievance Redressal Cell for doctors4 Mandatory mental health support and counselling in government hospitals5 Clear SOPs for departmental inquiries to prevent bias or intimidation6 Whistleblower protection for doctors reporting harassment or abuse7 Appointment of Doctor Welfare Nodal Officers at district and state levels8 Legal reforms to strengthen the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Institutions Prevention of Violence and Damage or Loss to Property Act to include administrative and psychological harassment as punishable offencesldquoThis tragedy must serve as a turning pointrdquo the IMA said adding that doctors serving in difficult environments deserve empathy mental health support and procedural fairnessCopies of the letter were also sent to the Prime Ministerrsquos Office the Health Minister Directorate of Health Services Deputy Director of Health Services Pune Superintendent of Police Satara the Maharashtra Director General of Police and the Womenrsquos Rights CommissionNeed help here are suicide prevention helplinesSamaritans Mumbai Monday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm 8422984527Connecting NGO From 10 am to 8 pm 99220043059922001122Snehi From 10 am to 10 pm 93768041021 Life 7893078930Aasra 9820466726