The IMA demanded immediate and impartial legal action against all the accused involved in the attack at Dombivli Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital
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The Indian Medical Association (IMA – Maharashtra) has called for a day-long “withdrawal of routine healthcare services” on Monday (July 20th), protesting the attack on doctors at a Dombivli municipal hospital.
Citing the attack on doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers at Dombivili’s Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital, the state arm of the IMA said, “violence against healthcare professionals while they are discharging their duties is not merely an attack on individuals but an attack on the entire healthcare system.”
All routine healthcare services across the state will be withdrawn for 24 hours, from 6.00 am on Monday, to 6.00 am on Tuesday, the doctors said. And during the protest, all routine OPD services will remain closed. “Elective surgeries and routine medical services will be suspended. Emergency services, Intensive Care Units (ICUs), maternity services, and all life-saving treatments will continue uninterrupted,” they added.
This protest will be supported by doctors from allopathy, ayurveda, homeopathy, and all other systems of medicine, along with various medical associations, nursing associations, paramedical staff, healthcare workers, and several organizations associated with the healthcare sector, the IMA said.
“This decision is not against the common patients. It is aimed at making healthcare services in the state free from violence, ensuring justice for the victims of violence, and securing a safe, dignified, and fearless working environment for doctors, nurses, paramedical staff, and all healthcare workers. Safe healthcare workers mean safe patient care,” it said.
The IMA demanded immediate and impartial legal action against all the accused involved in the attack at Dombivli Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital. “Any attempt to provide political support, interference, or protection to the accused must be stopped immediately. The involvement of persons holding political office in such brutal attacks undermines democratic values, the rule of law, and public confidence in the justice system,” the doctors body said, calling on the Government to ensure no political interference in this case.
They also called for amendments to the Maharashtra Medicare Service Persons and Medicare Service Institutions (Prevention of Violence and Damage to Property) Act, 2010. “The deficiencies in the Act should be addressed to make it more effective, preventive, and stringent. In particular, provisions should include mandatory registration of FIRs, making serious assaults and offences involving the use of weapons cognizable and non-bailable, completion of investigations within 30–60 days, disposal of cases through fast-track courts, and effective provisions for compensation and recovery of damages.”
Published on July 17, 2026
