Doctors in the State, under the banner of Indian Medical Association (IMA) – Goa, extended support to the agitating doctors across the country and staged a silent protest condemning the assault on doctors. Doctors held a protest march from Azad Maidan to the old GMC complex in the city as a token of their support. Non-essential services across the State were shut during the day, however, they resumed later in the evening though the protest was called for 24 hours. Later, IMA Goa president Dr Anil Mehndiratta led a delegation that submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant. “It has been observed that the increase in violence will adversely affect the public health at large. Not only the patients undergoing the treatment in the institution facing violence will be directly affected but also there are lots of indirect consequences. Institutions will be reluctant to take up complicated and risky patients, which will affect public health at large. Threat of violence increases the stress levels of health care workers. Sound judgment regarding patient care will be compromised in such situations,” the memorandum stated. IMA – Goa former president Dr Shekhar Salkar, highlighting the issue of attacks on doctors, demanded that armed security personnel be posted outside all casualty departments in government-run institutions and private hospitals should also take care of doctors. Referring to earlier instances in the State wherein doctors were attacked by members of a patient’s family, he said the persons were booked and punished. “We are thankful to former CM late Manohar Parrikar during whose tenure, there was attack on doctor and he went on to issue even lookout notice against the accused, who had fled abroad,” he added. Goa Ayurvedic Doctors’ Association, Goa Homeopathic Association, Nursing Association, Goa Association of Medical Representatives, Chemists and Druggists Association, Goa Dental Association and Physiotherapist Association participated in the protest and pledged their support against violence on doctors.