Kolkata: On Thursday, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF), the umbrella organisation that led the protests against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College & Hospital in Kolkata last month, decided to return to duty, but only in the General Emergency Departments of various medical colleges and hospitals beginning Saturday.
The WBJDF has also declared that it will actively participate in the medical camps set up by the state government in a show of commitment to the state’s health crisis following the flood.
“However, barring the General Emergency Department and medical camps, we will not be rejoining duty in any other department,” a protesting junior doctor confirmed.
WBJDF representative Dr Aniket Mahato also informed the media that their sit-in protests in front of Swastha Bhavan, the state health department headquarters at Salt Lake, on the northern outskirts of Kolkata, will be lifted on Friday afternoon.
He said that on Friday afternoon, WBJDF will be organising a rally from Swastha Bhavan to the CBI office at the CGO complex also in Salt Lake, demanding the central agency promptly complete its ongoing investigation in the rape and murder case.
“We will demand from the CBI that they ensure justice for the victim as soon as possible by pinpointing the culprits,” Mahato reiterated, underlining the WBJDF’s unwavering determination to see justice served.
However, the protesting junior doctors clarified that the partial suspension of the cease-work might be temporary and would be resumed if their demands, which the state government has claimed to have accepted, are not fulfilled on paper. This reiteration underscores the urgency of the situation and the WBJDF’s readiness to act if necessary.
The decision follows a note from the office of Chief Secretary Manoj Pant announcing that a security audit will be conducted at all medical colleges and hospitals in the state.
The note also claimed that police, security, and female personnel would be deployed in every healthcare facility in consultation with the state home department.
It has also been decided that immediate steps should be taken to fill vacant posts of doctors, nurses, and GDA technicians, among others.
“A robust grievance redressal system should be developed to address promptly the grievances and complaints of all the stakeholders including patient & patient parties,” the note read.
For more updates Subscribe to Media Eye News
–IANS
Photo: IANS
