In a dramatic show of solidarity with junior doctors, the senior faculty at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital resigned en masse today, amid ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor. Visuals shared on social media captured the moment as 50 senior doctors handed in their resignations, met with applause from junior doctors.
The protests began following the tragic murder of a postgraduate trainee doctor on August 9 during her duty hours at the hospital. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), currently investigating the case, has charged Sanjoy Roy, a former contractual employee of Kolkata Police, with the rape and murder of the doctor. The incident has not only sent shockwaves through the medical community but has also spurred widespread outrage, leading to a long-lasting protest that has significantly disrupted healthcare services.
Junior doctors, who have been on a hunger strike since Saturday, are demanding justice for their colleague, along with broader reforms to improve safety and working conditions in hospitals. They have accused a corruption-threat syndicate of influencing hospital administration and have called for increased campus democracy and a more patient-friendly system in state medical institutions. Among their key demands are the establishment of a centralized referral system across all hospitals and medical colleges in West Bengal, a real-time bed vacancy monitoring system, and task forces to ensure the provision of essential facilities, such as CCTV surveillance, proper on-call rooms, and clean washrooms.
Another critical demand raised by the protesting doctors is for enhanced security measures in hospitals. They are calling for increased police presence, specifically the recruitment of permanent women police officers, and immediate action to fill vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers. These demands have been at the forefront of the protests, with junior doctors insisting that the safety of healthcare professionals and patients alike must be prioritized.
Despite repeated requests from the state government for the protesting doctors to return to work, the doctors have expressed frustration over the lack of concrete action on their demands. West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, while addressing the media on Monday, assured that 90 percent of ongoing infrastructure projects at medical colleges would be completed by next month. He urged doctors to return to duty, emphasizing the government’s commitment to creating a safer work environment. “We are working towards improving the situation and creating a safer environment. There is positive intent from everyone involved, and we request the doctors to join duties,” Pant said.
The protests come during Durga Puja, a time when Kolkata is usually immersed in celebration, but the tragic incident has cast a shadow over the festivities. While some senior doctors joined their junior colleagues in a symbolic hunger strike earlier today, the mass resignation marks an escalation in the protests.
The junior doctors initially ended a 42-day strike on September 21 after assurances from the state government to address their concerns. However, they resumed their protests on October 1 following an attack on medics at another state-run hospital, continuing their hunger strike in pursuit of their demands.
(Input from various sources)
(Rehash/Ankur Deka/MSM)