Kolkata doctor murder: Doctors set Oct 21 deadline for Mamata Banerjee govt, threaten state-wide strike
Kolkata doctor murder: Junior doctors in West Bengal, protesting against the brutal rape and murder of a women trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, have set a deadline of October 21 for the West Bengal government. Doctors have threatened a state-wide strike on October 22 if their demands are not addressed.
"We want CM Mamata Banerjee to sit for a discussion and implement all of our demands," Debasish Halder, one of the protesting junior doctors, told reporters. "Until this is done, all the junior and senior doctors of both government and private healthcare facilities will be compelled to go on strike on Tuesday."
Junior doctors have been demanding justice for their killed colleague, a postgraduate trainee doctor at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, who was allegedly raped and murdered in August. The doctors are also advocating for increased safety, a centralised referral system, and other healthcare infrastructure improvements.
"Our colleagues are observing a fast unto death. If the chief minister does not act by Monday, we will have to go on strike on Tuesday," Halder stated.
Another protesting doctor, Sayantani Ghosh Hazra, questioned why Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had not visited them despite the fact that their fast-unto-death had been going on for 14 days.
"She is the guardian of the state and we are like her children. Could she not come to us once to discuss our genuine concerns?" Hazra, a post-graduate trainee doctor, remarked. Hazra has been on a fast since October 5.
The doctors' demands include the immediate removal of West Bengal Health Secretary N S Nigam, increased security measures at hospitals, the installation of CCTV cameras, and the building of proper on-call rooms and restrooms. Medics are also advocating for the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system to improve patient care across hospitals.
- PTC NEWS
