Kolkata rape and murder case: Resident doctors hold fresh meeting with West Bengal officials to end impasse

They have been continuing with their strike despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accepting certain demands

A fresh meeting was held between senior officials of the West Bengal Government and protesting doctors on Wednesday (September 18, 2024) to end the ongoing strike over the rape and murder of a doctor at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital last month.

The meeting came two days after the doctors held a meeting at the residence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee where she conceded to several demands, including the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner and senior officials of the Health Department.

Despite the appeal from the Chief Minister to return to work, the doctors have not joined duty and said their demands had only partially been met.

“In reference to our last meeting with the honourable Chief Minister, we would like to reiterate that there were certain key points regarding our five-point demands which were left unresolved,” representatives of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front wrote to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant earlier in the day.

Also Read | Protesting doctors hail in the removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner, other officials as victory of their movement

The email by the doctors addressed to the Chief Secretary sought talks with the State government over issues “concerning the development of the healthcare system, safety, security, and prevailing threat culture”.

The Chief Secretary responded to the communication by the doctors and, like the Chief Minister, urged them to join duty. .Referring to the fact that several areas of south Bengal are facing flood-like situation with vast areas inundated. Mr. Pant said, “we again appeal to you to join duty in larger public interest and provide services to common people”. The Chief Secretary said he, along with other members of the ‘Task Force’ set up by the State government, would meet a delegation of 30 doctors at Nabanna Sabhaghar.

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Later in the day, the doctors were escorted to the State Secretariat by a pilot police vehicle and a meeting started at 7.15 p.m. The meeting concluded at 9.30 p.m. However, there was no assurance from the doctors that the strike will be called off.

Despite the transfer of several officials and the assurance by the Chief Minister, the resident doctors have continued with their strike and sit-in demonstration outside the Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the State Health Department. The doctors sought the removal of Health Secretary N.S. Nigam, among other pending demands.

‘Fear psychosis’

Earlier, members of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front had told the Supreme Court on Tuesday (September 17, 2024) that they would “in principle” want to rejoin work following assurances from Ms. Banerjee at a meeting held on Monday (September 16, 2024), but they were still haunted by a “fear psychosis”. 

Also Read | Ready to work, but haunted by fear: West Bengal doctors tell Supreme Court

The doctors have been protesting since August 9, when the body of a postgraduate trainee doctor was found in the seminar room of the emergency building of the hospital. The West Bengal Government has been stating that health services in the State-run hospitals have been severely affected because of the strike.

The Supreme Court had on September 17, 2024, said infrastructure improvements at the State-run health facilities should be done through a “participatory process”. The apex court, in an earlier order on September 9, had urged the doctors to resume work.

Published - September 18, 2024 05:42 pm IST