Junior doctors in West Bengal continued with their agitation for the fourth day Friday, hampering regular services in all state-run medical colleges and hospitals, and a number of private hospitals.
Junior doctors in West Bengal continued with their agitation for the fourth day Friday, hampering regular services in all state-run medical colleges and hospitals, and a number of private hospitals.
A day after Mamata Banerjee branded doctors as outsiders, mass resignation continued to pour in from several parts of the state.
So far, 877 doctors have resigned so far.
Full list of Doctors who have resigned so far
SSKM 200
NRS 108
R G KAR 107
Sagar Data 25
CNMC 65
Kolkata medical 112
North Bengal Medical 119
MURSHIDABAD MEDICAL 42
BIRBHUM MEDICAL 37
BURDWAN MEDICAL 26
MALDA MEDICAL 36
The Calcutta HC today gave state government seven days to reply to a PIL regarding the strike by junior doctors in the state. Division bench headed by Chief Justice TJ Subramanium heard the matter. The court asked state and steps taken by the government to end the impasse. It further said that the state government has to find a solution and end this deadlock.
It refused to pass any interim order on the strike by junior doctors.The Chief Justice, during the hearing of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), reminded the striking doctors of the 'Hippocratic Oath' they take to ensure the welfare of all patients.
Noted film personality Aparna Sen on Friday visited the protesting doctos at NRS hospital and said that Mamata Banerjee should show more compassion. She said that just like she is CM of the patients, she is CM of the doctors too.
Notwithstanding Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's warning of strict action if work is not resumed, the junior doctors carried on with their agitation.
Services were totally disrupted in outdoor facilities and other departments of state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities.
The junior doctors have been agitating since Tuesday demanding security for themselves in government hospitals, after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured allegedly by relatives of a patient who died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital.
In solidarity with the doctors in Kolkata, their colleagues from across the country are either skipping work on Friday or are taking out protest marches.
1. Mass resignations continue
)
So far close to 175 doctors have resigned from NRS medical college. 18 doctors from Sagar Dutta medical college have resigned. 27 doctors from North Bengal medical college have also put in their papers.
On the other hand, reports are coming from several parts of the state of patients succumbing to illness without getting proper medical attention.
2. Union Health Minister urges Mamata not to make it prestige issue
)
Taking note of the ongoing nationwide strike over violence against doctors in West Bengal, Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan on Friday appealed to the Chief Minister of the state, Mamata Banerjee, to not make this an issue of prestige. He also assured doctors that the Central government is committed to ensuring their safety.
"I appeal with folded hands to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to not make this an issue of prestige. Despite getting beaten so badly, doctors only asked her to provide them adequate security and take action against all those behind this as per the law. But, she didn't do this and gave an ultimatum to the doctors after which doctors of West Bengal and across the country got angry and went on strike. If the Chief Minister changes her attitude, then patients will not suffer across India," Harsh Vardhan told ANI.
3. Protest spreads across country
)
Doctors across India took to the streets and have halted medical services in support of the nationwide protest on Friday to demand protection amidst the ongoing strike by the junior doctors at NRS Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) in West Bengal.
This comes nearly four days after a junior doctor at the Kolkata hospital was allegedly attacked by the relative of a patient who died on June 10.
The resident doctors at Raipur's Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital raised slogans on the streets in protest against the incident in Kolkata.
Doctors at North Bengal Medical College in Siliguri have also joined the strike as have the medical practitioners affiliated with Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). The doctors of AIIMS Delhi meanwhile halted health services leading to inconvenience to thousands of patients. The Resident Doctors' Association, Safdarjung Hospital also took out a protest march in the morning.
In cities like Jaipur, doctors have carried on with their duties wearing black bands as a mark of the protest, the members of Indian Medical Association, Trivandrum, on the other hand, held protests over the alleged violence.
Doctors with 'Save the Saviour' and 'Stand with NRSMCH' protested at the Government Medical College in Nagpur.
Meanwhile, students of NRSMCH have continued their sit-in protest on Friday despite West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's appeal to the doctors to get back to work and ensure that hospitals can run "smoothly and peacefully" on Thursday.
Apart from demanding strong actions against the culprits of the NRSMCH incident, the medical organisations are pressing for strong legislation and are also demanding a safe working environment for medical practitioners.
4. Mamata Banerjee repeats 'outsiders' charge
)
The TMC chief on Friday reiterated that outsiders instigated the doctors' agitation in the state and accused the BJP of targeting the Bengalis and the minorities.
"Outsiders are instigating the doctors. I had rightly said that they were involved in yesterday's protest. I had seen some outsiders raising slogans (at SSKM hospital)," she said while addressing a rally in Kanchrapara.
