Emotional junior doctors, demanding justice in the rape and murder case at RG Kar Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, remain firm. In this context, besides organizing blood donation camps at Durga Puja pandals across the city on Wednesday, they will also distribute special pamphlets highlighting the demand for justice for their murdered colleagues.
Junior doctor Debashish Halder said on Tuesday night, “Tomorrow we will organize a blood donation camp and distribute leaflets in various weekly districts highlighting our demands. “The collective resignation of our senior doctors yesterday strengthened our confidence, but we think the West Bengal government is putting pressure on them.
More than 50 doctors resigned collectively
Seven junior doctors began a hunger strike to death starting on Saturday night, with many senior colleagues also supporting and expressing solidarity with them. Earlier in the day, more than 50 doctors at RG Kar Hospital resigned en masse in support of junior doctors. ,
However, the state government claimed that it has not received any such resignation letter. Dr. Hilalal Konar said: “The country cannot remain silent.” They should join the discussion to resolve this impasse. If anything happens to these young doctors who are fasting for a noble cause, the state will be held responsible.
Doctor hunger strikes to death
Junior and senior doctors held two rallies on Tuesday evening in support of their colleagues who were on hunger strike to death, with senior doctors from various medical colleges taking part. One rally started from the Calcutta Medical College, another from the SSKM Hospital, and both ended at the Esplanade, where the dying doctors continued their protest.
Meanwhile, senior doctors at SSKM Hospital have threatened to resign en masse if the state government does not heed the demands of junior doctors. Junior doctors have stressed that their priority is to ensure justice is served for the late female doctor. Their other demands include the immediate removal of Health Minister NS Nigam, accountability for administrative failures and measures to address corruption within the department.
Doctors make many requests
Their other demands include setting up a centralized hospital referral system, implementing a bed vacancy monitoring system, ensuring workplaces are equipped with appropriate facilities and enhancing police security in hospitals. They also called for increased police security at hospitals, recruitment of permanent female police officers and quick filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses and other health workers.
Junior doctors started protesting after a fellow doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was raped and murdered on August 9. They ended their protest on September 21 after 42 days after the state government assured that their demands would be addressed.
However, after a family member of a patient at Government Medical College and Sagor Dutta Hospital attacked them last week, doctors canceled work on October 1 and launched a ‘hunger strike till death’ campaign. On Saturday, the state government failed to meet their demands.
