The junior doctors, continuing their strike in state-run hospitals in West Bengal, have decided not to heed the Supreme Court’s appeal to resume duties immediately. The protest was incited by the alleged rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The protest started twelve days ago.
However, problems do not end for RG Kar as the state government has recently transferred three hospital officials, and the former principal of this hospital – Sandip Ghosh – was transferred to the CNMC, but his posting was canceled, yet the doctors have not withdrawn their strike. They have claimed that their major demand for justice for their “sister” remains unmet.
Meanwhile, the resident doctors of AIIMS Delhi and RML Hospital New Delhi lifted the stir eleven days after orders from the apex court and were under guarantee. The AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association in New Delhi supported the court’s actions and urged compliance with its orders; their focus has always been the well-being of patrons.
But the junior doctors of Bengal have not changed their stand. They have said that they will watch and then await what happens at the Supreme Court. This war reminds us that there ought to be a comprehensive resolution to the safety issues for doctors and to organize the healthcare sector.
