RG Kar Case: Doctors Threaten Statewide Strike on October 22 If Demands Remain Unmet

Kolkata: Junior doctors in West Bengal, currently on an indefinite hunger strike since October 5 to seek justice for the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College Hospital, have threatened to initiate a statewide strike on October 22 if their demands are not met.

Stating that they are in talks with their colleagues in other states, the medics said there may also be a country-wide strike by doctors on Tuesday over the issue.

The junior medics said that they, along with senior doctors, were giving a deadline to the state government till October 21 to fulfil their demands.

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"We want the chief minister (Mamata Banerjee) to sit for a discussion and implement all our demands," Debasish Halder, one of the agitating junior doctors, told reporters.

According to the PTI report, "Unless this is done, all the junior and senior doctors of both government and private healthcare facilities will be forced to go on strike on Tuesday," he said after a meeting between the junior doctors and their seniors here.

Claiming that the doctors were not against the interest of the people, he said they had withdrawn their earlier cease work for the same.

"Our colleagues are holding a fast-unto-death. If the chief minister does not act by Monday, we will be forced to go on a strike on Tuesday," he said.

Halder said that their colleagues are continuing their indefinite fast to press for their demands.

The fast-unto-death by the agitating medics in West Bengal entered the 14th day on Friday over demands for justice for the deceased woman doctor of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital and workplace security.

The woman postgraduate trainee of the state-run hospital was allegedly raped and murdered in August.

So far, six fasting junior doctors have been hospitalised after the deterioration of their health condition, a protesting medic said, adding that eight doctors are currently on indefinite fast at the agitation site.

"If any patient's health suffers owing to a strike on Tuesday, the state government will have to take responsibility for that," he said, news agency PTI reported.

Halder said that the junior doctors will also hold demonstrations at various hospitals on Monday.

"We are also in talks with our colleagues in other states and there may be a country-wide strike on Tuesday over the issue," he said.

The protesting doctors are demanding justice for the deceased woman medic and immediate removal of state Health Secretary N S Nigam.

Their other demands include the establishment of a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges in the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions such as CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.

The junior doctors went on a cease work following the rape-murder of their fellow medic at R G Kar hospital on August 9.

They ended their stir after 42 days on September 21, following assurances from the state government to look into their demands.

Also Read:PGI resident doctors hold 12-hour hunger strike in support of West Bengal doctors