IMA Maharashtra Announces 24-Hour Medical Service Protest Over Dombivli Hospital Assault

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Maharashtra has announced a 24-hour statewide suspension of routine medical services starting July 20, 2026, to protest an assault on healthcare workers at Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli. The protest will halt routine outpatient department (OPD) services and elective surgeries across Maharashtra.

According to the official statement from the association, the suspension is scheduled to begin at 6:00 AM on July 20, 2026, and will run until 6:00 AM on July 21, 2026.

The protest was triggered by an alleged assault on doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers at the Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital in Dombivli. In response to the violence, the IMA Maharashtra called for the day-long suspension of non-essential services to register their protest.

During the 24-hour protest, routine OPD services and pre-planned elective procedures will be completely suspended in hospitals across the state. Medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, are expected to participate in the protest action.

However, the IMA Maharashtra has assured the public that emergency medical services will remain unaffected. Emergency patient care will continue to function normally throughout the protest period from July 20 to July 21 to ensure that patients requiring urgent treatment are not left without care.

The announcement follows the incident at Dombivli's Shastrinagar Municipal Hospital, which sparked widespread condemnation from the medical community, leading to this coordinated statewide action by the Indian Medical Association.