Kolkata: Tug of war between WB government, junior doctors continue

Despite  assurances from the West Bengal government that measures to enhance hospital  security and safety are being gradually implemented, junior doctors in Kolkata persist with their indefinite hunger strike following the August 9 rape and murder of a trainee doctor.

West  Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on October 8 had appealed to the medicos to end their strike, saying that 90 per cent of the work related to their safety and security in hospitals and medical colleges would be completed by October  10.

The  junior doctors, however, refused to end their strike, stating that safety and security were just one aspect of their 10-point list of demands. On Wednesday, they tried to march towards different Durga Puja pandals of Kolkata with a symbolic statue of Abhaya. However, the police denied them permission, leading to a confrontation.

After a meeting with Principal Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam and officials from various state-run institutions, including the principal of RG Kar Medical  College and Hospital, Panth urged junior doctors to end their hunger strike. He assured them that all safety and security measures would be completed by October 15.

He informed that out of 7,051 CCTV cameras across 28 state-run institutions, 3,181 (over 45%) have been installed, an increase from the 26% reported by the state government during the last Supreme Court hearing on September 30.

Additionally, the construction works of duty rooms and washrooms have progressed to 62 per cent and 65 per cent, respectively, up from 49 per cent and 40 per cent. Starting October 15, the state will launch a pilot project for a centralized referral system that displays real-time bed availability, allowing hospitals to refer patients accordingly.

The West Bengal government aims to implement this system in all state-run hospitals by the first week of November. Additionally, a panic button or alarm system is expected to be installed by November 1, addressing most of the safety and security demands made by junior doctors.

However,  the movement gained additional traction on Tuesday when senior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital offered mass resignation, accusing the government of neglecting the other demands raised by the junior doctors. On  Wednesday, senior doctors from Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, Calcutta  National Medical College & Hospital, North Bengal Medical College and  Hospital and Midnapore Medical College and Hospital followed suit. 

However, the state has not accepted any of these mass resignations, saying this is not the official way to resign.

Other demands by junior doctors include:

• Removal of Principal Health Secretary  Narayan Swaroop Nigam
• An urgent investigation into corruption and embezzlement allegations within the West Bengal Medical Council and the West Bengal Health  Recruitment Board
• Holding of student elections in every medical colleg
• Filling vacant hospital positions
• Appointing male and female police personnel on medical college campuses instead of civic volunteers
• Recognising Resident  Doctors Associations, and establishing college-level inquiry committees to punish those involved in the ongoing “threat culture”

During  the last Supreme Court hearing, senior advocate Karuna Nundy, representing the  doctors, had informed the apex court that several individuals named in the CBI’s writ petition, accused of misconduct and covering up the crime, were still employed at the hospital. She had appealed that these individuals be either suspended or placed on leave.

After the hearing, the RG Kar authorities expelled 10 individuals, including doctors, interns, and house staff, on these grounds. Among those arrested was Ashish Pandey, who has been accused by the CBI of financial irregularities at the institution. Pandey, a house staff member at RG Kar MCH, is believed to be a close associate of former principal Sandip Ghosh.

The protesting doctors, however, have said that there are 49 remaining persons who were identified to be a part of the "threat culture".