CM Banerjee Criticizes Government Medical College Principals, Urges Fair Handling of Junior Doctors' Concerns

Accusing the principals of playing “political roles”, she said, "Some principals play political roles (rajnoitik role palan koren). We have this information as well.... While selecting principals, we have to take into account whether the aspirant has the experience and other credentials. However, please don’t assume that we have influenced all the principals in our way."  

Medical Dialogues had recently reported that junior doctors who had been on hunger strike since October 5 to protest against the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, ended their strike on Monday following a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The medics also called off their proposed shutdown in the state's health sector from Tuesday till an indefinite period. Earlier in the day, a 17-member delegation of the medics met Banerjee at the state secretariat and discussed various issues, including the prevailing "threat culture" in hospitals, justice for their deceased colleague and systemic changes in the state's healthcare infrastructure.

“The principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is present here. You have suspended 47 students. However, you did not inform us about this. You should have sent the recommendations first to the health department and the health department should have consulted me. You sent the recommendations to the university (West Bengal University of Health Science),” she said.

“I made you principal so you could take care of all. You can have a grudge against someone. You can get allegations against someone. But you are making all the decisions on your own. Is this not a threat culture? I will request the principals to let us know before suspending someone. I do not want to destroy the academic future of a student," she added.

It came to light that Banerjee raised the role of the principals after a protesting junior doctor said the students who feel harassed on the campus do not know who they should approach for redress.

Also read- Threat Culture Allegations: Senior doctors gheraoed West Bengal Medical Council office