Bengal doctors threaten fresh protests over hospital violence
The Hindu
West Bengal junior doctors threaten strike after recent attacks, awaiting Supreme Court hearing for resolution.
Thousands of junior doctors in West Bengal’s government hospitals have threatened to strike work again after an attack against doctors and medical staff at the Sagore Dutta Medical College and Hospital (MCH) in North 24 Parganas a few days ago.
Representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front said that they are waiting for the Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Monday (September 30, 2024) and will go on strike if the situation does not improve. “We want to give some time to the government. If the situation does not change, we will start a complete cease-work again from Monday evening,” a representative said.
After a 42-day agitation in protest against the rape while on duty of a woman resident doctor at the R.G. Kar MCH last month, junior doctors had partially called off their strike on September 21. The State government had held several rounds of talks with the protesting doctors to bring them back to work.
On Friday (September 27), the relatives of a woman admitted to the Sagore Dutta MCH in North 24 Parganas allegedly assaulted doctors and other hospital staff after she died at the hospital. The hospital’s medical staff went on strike after the alleged assault.
While four people were arrested for the violence, and the hospital’s security has been beefed up, the junior doctors say that not much has changed after the rape and murder of the doctor at R.G. Kar MCH on August 9.
On September 28, junior doctors sent an email to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, reiterating their demands which are “yet to be fulfilled” by the State government. In the two-page letter, representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum referred to their meeting at the State Secretariat on September 18 when they say Mr. Pant had “verbally agreed” to their demands.
The West Bengal government has allocated ₹100 crore for improving the security of State-run hospitals, and announced the ‘Ratrir Sathi (Helpers of the Night)’ initiative to support workers providing services at night.
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