Doctors’ Protest in Kolkata

June 14, 2019 Hot from the Oven Valli Sarvani No comments

The doctors in West Bengal called for a strike in a protest against the attack on two doctors by the family members of a patient who died on Monday night at NRS Medical College and Hospital.

As Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is not focusing on their demands, doctors in Kolkata are continuing their strike on the third day also and they decided to continue it until their demands are met.

Mamata says that the opposition BJP and the Communist parties are provoking the doctors towards the protest.

In order to express solidarity with the striking doctors in Kolkata, ‘All India Protest Day’ has been declared by the India Medical Association today.

Here are some important points about the doctors’ strike:

All emergency wards, outdoor facilities, pathological units of many government hospitals and medical colleges remained closed today.
The CM Mamata Banerjee gave the doctors a four-hour deadline which was later extended to 2:00 p.m. to rejoin the services. Those who do not resume work would have to vacate hospitals as per government orders.
She also wrote to senior doctors of all medical colleges and hospitals across the state by requesting them to continue taking care of patients.
She described the attacks on doctors as ‘unfortunate’. She said that five persons have been arrested in connection with the incident. Furthermore, an enquiry has been ordered to look into the complaint of negligence in the treatment which led to the death of the patient.
However, the opposition parties are demanding for the resignation of health minister.
Saibal Kumar Mukherjee (principal of NRS Medical College) and Saurabh Chattopadhyay (MSVP) resigned on Thursday. They expressed their regret as they are unable to put an end to the protest of the doctors.
Many resident doctors at the AIIMS have decided to boycott work today.

Image credit: Chief Minister Government of West Bengal image by Foreign and Commonwealth Office is licensed under CC BY 2.0