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The ongoing protest by junior doctors in West Bengal took a significant turn on Monday evening when Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met with the protesting doctors. The meeting, which was streamed live from the state secretariat Nabanna, aimed to resolve the impasse on demands stemming from the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical Hospital in August. This incident sparked widespread outrage among the medical community, leading to two statewide cease-work protests and the current indefinite hunger strike by junior doctors, which has now lasted for 17 days.
The doctors’ demands include justice for the victim of the RG Kar rap-murder case and systemic changes in the state's healthcare infrastructure. Their key demand was the removal of the state health secretary, N S Nigam. During the meeting, Banerjee acknowledged the doctors' grievances, emphasizing that most of their demands had already been met by the state government. However, she was firm on her stance regarding Nigam’s removal, stating that the doctors' demand was not feasible. This point of contention became a central focus of the negotiations, with the doctors threatening a nationwide strike on October 22 if their demand was not met.
The meeting highlighted the deep-seated anxieties among the doctors about the prevailing “threat culture” at state-run hospitals. This concern stemmed from the suspension of several junior doctors and medical students at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, which Banerjee deemed unfair and a violation of proper procedures. The doctors, however, argued that those who had been suspended were involved in the threat culture and did not deserve to be doctors. This clash of perspectives underscored the complex nature of the issue and the need for a holistic approach to address the root causes of the unrest. The meeting concluded with Banerjee promising to look into the doctors' demands once again. However, the doctors remained on an indefinite fast, with eight still continuing their hunger strike and six hospitalized due to their deteriorating health. The future course of action remains uncertain, leaving the outcome of the protest in a state of flux.
Source: RG Kar protest: Mamata Banerjee meets protesting doctors. Inside details