RG Kar Stir: 2 KGMU Lucknow doctors join hunger strike

Lucknow: In solidarity with the junior doctors in West Bengal who have been on fast unto death since October 5, two doctors of the Resident Doctors Association of Lucknow's King George Medical University (KGMU) started an indefinite hunger strike on Tuesday night.

The two doctors are- Dr Divyansh Singh, President of RDA, KGMU Lucknow and Dr Ranvijay Patel, Vice President of RDA, KGMU Lucknow. They have been on a hunger strike for more than 36 hours now. 

This comes after the Resident Doctors’ Association of KGMU, Lucknow decided to stand in unwavering solidarity with junior doctors of West Bengal with their demands which include Justice for Abhaya, Preventive legislation for the security of doctors and healthcare workers (Central Healthcare Protection Act, CHPA) and Demands of our colleagues on hunger strike in West Bengal.

Also read- Kolkata doctor rape-murder: Another Junior Doctor Joins NBMCH Hunger Strike

Other doctors who are constantly monitoring the health conditions of these two doctors performed a physical examination on them at midnight on 16th Oct. The results revealed that the blood glucose levels of Dr Ranvijay were 88mg/dl while the blood glucose levels of Dr Divyansh were 71mg/dl which are reported to be alarmingly dangerous.

Presently, 5 junior medics in Kolkata and two in North Bengal are on fast-unto-death demanding justice for their colleague. Besides many senior doctors and medical faculties were on symbolic fast at Esplanade where their juniors were on fast since October 5.

Meanwhile, the Resident Doctors Association of KGMU in collaboration with Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, and Kalyan Singh Super Speciality Cancer Institute & Hospital announced a strike on 16th October suspending non-emergency services and academics. 

A press release issued in this regard mentioned, "The Resident Doctors Association of KGMU in collaboration with SGPGIMS, RMLIMS, & KSSSCI stand in solidarity with fellow Resident Doctors in West Bengal for prompt justice to Abhaya against the heinous incident at R. G. Kar, Kolkata. In this regard, we will hold a strike on 16th Oct 2024 with the suspension of the non-emergency services and academics. This is in line with the nationwide voice and calls for action for a strong national message that such delay despite more than two months of the CBI investigation is unacceptable." 

Also read- Kolkata doctor rape-murder case: FEMA calls 2-day strike in Siliguri Medical Colleges