50 Senior Doctors at RG Kar Medical College submit En-masse Resignation

Kolkata: Expressing concern for the deteriorating health of the junior doctors on hunger strike since October 5, around 50 senior doctors and faculty members of RG Kar Medical College tendered their resignation letters to the director of medical education on Tuesday, reportedly to exert pressure on the West Bengal government in support of the protesters.

This move was taken to ensure the safety of protesting doctors who are currently on an indefinite hunger strike demanding justice for Abhaya, a PG Trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered inside the seminar room of RG Kar on August 9. 

Condemning the government's insensitive attitude towards the justified democratic movement and the deteriorating health conditions of the protesting doctors on indefinite hunger strike, the senior doctors and faculty members submitted their resignation urging the government to come to reconciliation with the protesting doctors. 

Also read- PG Medico Death Case: Doctors' Association calls for nationwide protest, symbolic hunger strike on October 9

In a letter addressed to the Director of Medical Education and Ex Officio Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of West Bengal on October 8, the doctors wrote that "We, the undersigned doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, have been striving to provide optimal hospital services. However, the current conditions have made it increasingly challenging to deliver the quality of patient care that is essential. The health of the protesting doctors who are currently sitting on hunger strike is deteriorating tremendously fast."

It further stated, "We request the government to come into reconciliation with the protesting doctors and the ones who are sitting on an indefinite hunger strike immediately. We senior doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital are giving mass resignation as the government seems to be oblivious to the deteriorating condition of the doctors on hunger strike and if the situation demands we will also go for individual resignation."  

Earlier, a press release issued by the doctors threatened the government with mass resignation. The press release also stated similar concerns with demands to arrange a negotiation as early as possible noting the health condition of the protesting junior doctors. 

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that seven junior doctors from the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front on October 5 began an indefinite hunger strike in Kolkata over the RG Kar rape and murder case, demanding that the State government fulfil their long-pending demands. The protest is being held at Dharmatala, where doctors refuse to resume work until their issues are addressed. 

This comes after the government failed to meet their demands. On October 5, the doctors issued the Bengal state government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, warning that they would begin an indefinite hunger strike if unmet.

These 10-point chartered demands include: 1) Justice must be ensured for Abhaya quickly and transparently by means of a proper investigation. 2) The Health Ministry must take responsibility for administrative incompetence and corruption in the health sector and the Health Secretary must be removed from his position immediately. 3) A central referral system must be implemented immediately in all hospitals and medical colleges in the state.

4) Each medical college and hospital must establish a digital bed vacancy monitor. 5) As soon as possible, college-based task forces must be formed in all medical colleges and hospitals with elected representation from junior doctors, ensuring the availability of CCTV, on-call rooms, bathrooms, helpline numbers, and panic buttons as needed. 6) Police protection in hospitals must be increased. Permanent male and female police personnel should be appointed, rather than civic volunteers.

7) The vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and health workers in hospitals must be filled immediately. 8) Inquiry committees should be established in each medical college to punish those involved in threat syndicates. An inquiry committee should also be formed at the state level. 9) Student Union Elections must be held immediately in every medical college. All colleges should recognize the RDAs (Resident Doctors’ Association). Elected representation of students and junior doctors must be ensured in all decision-making committees of colleges/hospitals.10) A rapid investigation process should be initiated regarding the widespread allegations of corruption and irregularities within the WBMC(West Bengal Medical Council) and WBHRB (West Bengal Health Recruitment Board).

In support of the seven junior doctors who are currently on hunger strike, dozens of senior and junior doctors in all State-run medical colleges held a 12-hour token hunger strike on Tuesday to mount pressure on the state administration. Meanwhile, the chief secretary of the West Bengal government is likely to hold an emergency meeting with the health secretary at the state secretariat.

Speaking to HT, Dr Debabrata Das, a senior doctor at the ENT department of the RG Kar Hospital said, “Junior doctors have been protesting over the past two months and have now started a hunger strike. Their health conditions have started deteriorating. They are like our children. We senior doctors couldn’t sit idle and have tendered a mass resignation."

One of the senior doctors who submitted his resignation told the Daily, “Tendering our resignation doesn’t mean that we will stop work from tomorrow. We will continue to work till our resignations are accepted. The intention is to send a message to the state government that they should hold talks with the striking junior doctors. This stalemate can’t continue."

Also read- West Bengal Junior doctors continue indefinite hunger strike, list 10 demands