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The recent tragic death of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal has sparked outrage and ignited a wave of protests among the medical community. Junior doctors, demanding justice for their fallen colleague and improved security measures for healthcare workers, have been engaged in a ‘cease work’ action for over a month. This ongoing protest has significantly disrupted healthcare services across the state, with junior doctors refusing to attend their duties in various hospitals.
On Tuesday evening, a crucial meeting was convened by the governing body of the protesting medics to decide the future of their strike. The meeting focused on recent actions taken by the state government, which have addressed some of their key demands. One of the protesting doctors highlighted that the meeting aimed to determine whether the ‘cease work’ action should continue, considering that certain demands have been met by the state government.
The recent actions by the West Bengal government, including the removal of top officials like the Kolkata police commissioner, the director of health services, and the director of medical education, were seen as significant concessions to the protesting junior doctors. These actions followed an extensive meeting between the chief minister and representatives of the agitating doctors, marking a potential breakthrough in the ongoing standoff. The standoff began after the brutal rape-murder of a junior doctor at the hospital on August 9th.
While the doctors welcomed the government’s steps, they are still considering whether to continue their strike until all demands are met. The outcome of Tuesday’s meeting is expected to shape the next phase of the protest, as the medics continue to demand justice and improved security measures for healthcare workers. The ongoing protest serves as a stark reminder of the pressing need for a safe and secure environment for healthcare professionals, highlighting the vulnerability they face in the line of duty.
Source: RG Kar protest: Junior doctors meet to decide future of ongoing ‘cease work’ over rape-murder case