Doctors Protest Gain Momentum as More Medics Resign After Talks With Govt Fail Again

Kolkata: Amid the ongoing stir between medics and the West Bengal government, more doctors from various medical institutions tendered mass resignation in support of the junior doctors' protest seeking justice for RG Kar case victim. The resignations come after a late-night meeting between the state government and agitating junior doctors failed to resolve the impasse.

The meeting was chaired by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant where the protesting doctors alleged that they had received "verbal assurances" but nothing concrete.

Debasish Halder of the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front said, "Our friends have been protesting without food for over four days, and the government says it will consider our demands only in the third week of October, after the pujas. We never expected such insensitivity."

The protesting junior medics have emphasised that securing justice for 'Abhaya' remains their foremost priority. At the site, the doctors criticised the Kolkata police for apprehending their colleagues who were demonstrating and distributing leaflets outside some Durga Puja pandals in the city on Wednesday.

The agitating doctors put forward several demands including the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, alleging administrative incompetence and inaction against corruption in the department.

Other demands include establishment of a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges across the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions for CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.

They are also demanding increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and swift filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

The junior doctors went on to cease work following the rape-murder of a fellow medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

(Inputs from PTI)