Mon Oct 21 12:06:23 UTC 2024: Updated – October 21, 2024 05:39 pm ISTPeople sit on a road near the fasting mancha of junior doctors observing fast-unto-death in protest against the alleged rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, in Kolkata. | Photo Credit: PTI
Protesting junior doctors in West Bengal arrived at the State secretariat on Monday (October 21, 2024) evening to meet Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in an effort to resolve the ongoing impasse following the rape-murder of an on-duty woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.The doctors, however, asserted that they would continue their hunger strike demanding justice for the murdered doctor, removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam and enhanced security for healthcare workers, among other issues.
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The meeting, scheduled for 5 p.m., follows threats from the protesting doctors to launch a statewide ‘cease work’ if their demands are not addressed. So far, six doctors on hunger strike had been hospitalised due to deteriorating health, while eight others remained on indefinite fast.
Ms. Banerjee spoke with the protesting doctors over the phone on Saturday, urging them to end their fast, asserting that most of their demands had been met. She requested an additional three to four months to address their remaining concerns.Dr Debasish Halder, a senior resident of anaesthesiology at Medical College, Kolkata, says that of the ten-point demands which were demanded to the government earlier, were a centralised referral system and live bed vacancy monitor. He highlights that a State task force was promised for the fulfilment of infrastructural demands. “You had earlier said that 5-7 junior doctors should be part of the State Task Force, but we had suggested more representatives be present from WBJDF on a rotational basis. However, if a SoP is formed for the State Task Force formation and a monthly meeting of the task force ensured, along with directives for the same, we believe our earlier agreements can be realised more constructively,” he says
Dr Asfakulla Naiya, a protesting doctor of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front and third year postgraduate trainee of ENT at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, highlights to the Chief Minister that the demands posed by junior doctors include the welfare of patients who seek medical treatment in State-run hospitalsPublished – October 21, 2024 05:36 pm IST
West Bengal / sexual assault & rape / Live news
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