IMA plans protest against assault on doctors in Dombivli on July 20

Following the violent attack on doctors, nurses and healthcare workers at the Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra announced a 24-hour suspension of routine medical services across the state on July 20, 2026.

IMA appealed to the government to take stringent action against all those involved in the attack, without any political interference, and amend the Maharashtra Medicare Act to prevent violence against healthcare workers.

IMA representative Santosh Kulkarni said, “The involvement of persons holding political offices in such brutal attacks undermines democratic values, rule of law and public trust in the justice system. The government must ensure that there is no political interference in this case and provide immediate justice to the victims with fair and stringent action against the culprits.”

The IMA also said that the provisions of the law should include mandatory registration of FIRs, making serious assaults and offenses involving the use of weapons cognizable and non-bailable, investigations to be completed within 30-60 days, disposal of cases through fast-track courts and effective provisions for compensation and recovery of damages.

The doctors’ protest comes in the wake of an attack on a doctor by Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) corporator Ramesh Mhatre and a few supporters, who allegedly attacked doctors, nurses and other hospital staff at Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation at Shastrinagar Hospital. Allegedly, the company owner filed a criminal complaint against a doctor because a bed could not be found for a newborn baby in the hospital’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Medical services will be closed from 6:00 am on July 20 until 6:00 am on July 21. Routine OPD services and elective procedures will continue to be suspended. However, emergency services, intensive care units, maternity services and all life-saving treatments will continue as usual.

Other demands include 24-hour security arrangements in all government and private hospitals, strict implementation of the Zero Tolerance for Violence in Healthcare policy, a comprehensive Central law to protect healthcare workers across the country and increased investments to strengthen public healthcare infrastructure.