Kolkata RG Kar Medical College Crisis: Junior Doctors' Hunger Strike Intensifies Amid Demands for Safety and Justice
In the heart of Kolkata, a medical institution once renowned for its excellence has become a focal point of a deep-seated crisis. The RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, a prestigious teaching hospital in West Bengal, is currently embroiled in a severe standoff between junior doctors and the state government. The crisis began with the gruesome rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor at the hospital, which has led to an indefinite hunger strike by junior doctors demanding safety and security at their workplace.
The hunger strike, which started on October 5, has entered its ninth day, with three junior doctors already hospitalized due to deteriorating health conditions. Anustup Mukherjee, a junior doctor from Medical College, Kolkata, was the latest to be admitted to the ICU after falling ill late on Saturday. Aniket Mahato and Alok Verma, two other doctors on hunger strike, have also been hospitalized after their health worsened significantly.
The protesting doctors are demanding immediate action from the state government to ensure their safety and security. They are also seeking justice for their colleague who was brutally murdered at the hospital. The situation has escalated to the point where the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has called for a nationwide shutdown of elective services at hospitals from Monday in solidarity with the protesting doctors.
In response to the escalating situation, the West Bengal government has called a meeting with representatives of all doctors' bodies on Monday to discuss the demands. An email was sent by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant to about 12 associations of doctors urging them to send two representatives for the meeting. However, the government has also urged the doctors' body to call off the 'Droher Carnival' (Protest Carnival) scheduled for October 15, which coincides with the immersion carnival organized by the state government.
The carnival, which is an annual event showcasing Bengal's heritage, has been a point of contention. The Calcutta High Court has ordered that there should be no protests at the immersion carnival, and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari has called for a boycott of the event. West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has expressed support to the protesting doctors and urged party workers to join the protests in large numbers.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed her willingness to resign if it would resolve the crisis. However, she has also maintained that live streaming of the meeting was not possible due to legal constraints. The doctors have maintained that their demand for live streaming was aimed at ensuring transparency and accountability.
The situation has garnered significant support from civil society and prominent citizens. An open letter signed by about 30 signatories, including film-makers Aparna Sen, Srijit Mukherjee, and Kamaleswar Mukherjee, theatre personality-actor Kaushik Sen, and social activist Bolan Gangopadhyay, urged the junior doctors to call off their strike while acknowledging their genuine demands.
The ongoing crisis has highlighted the deep-seated issues within the healthcare system in West Bengal. The state government's response has been criticized for being inadequate, leading to further escalation of the situation. The junior doctors' determination to fight for their rights has garnered widespread support from both within and outside the medical community.
As the situation continues to unfold, it remains to be seen how the state government will address the demands of the junior doctors. The fate of the healthcare system in West Bengal hangs in the balance, and the outcome of this crisis will have far-reaching implications for the future of medical education and healthcare in the state.
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