Junior doctors in all medical colleges and hospitals of the state have started a complete strike from Tuesday. Notably, the decision to strike was taken after an eight-hour long General Body (GB) meeting on Monday night.
Earlier, in a meeting held on Saturday, doctors had warned that they would go on a statewide strike if their demands were not met. The strike is already underway at Sagar Dutta Medical College in Panihati.
The junior doctors have presented a total of ten demands, which mainly include providing speedy justice to the victim, removing the health secretary, increasing police security in hospitals, implementing a central referral system in government hospitals, making arrangements for monitoring vacant beds in hospitals, conducting student union elections, filling up vacant posts in hospitals, taking action against threatening persons, and making arrangements for CCTVs and panic buttons in hospitals.
The strike will continue until these demands are met. During the hearing of the case in the Supreme Court on Monday, junior doctors’ lawyer Indira Jaisingh demanded the suspension of seven persons. The court directed the CBI to submit a list of those against whom investigation is going on.
The state’s lawyer assured the court that action will be taken against those whose list will be given by the CBI. The Supreme Court also ordered that the work related to CCTV and security should be completed in all government hospitals by October 31. The Supreme Court raised the question why junior doctors are providing only emergency services.
The state replied that doctors are providing only essential services, but not OPD and other services. In response to this, Indira Jaisingh said that essential services include both OPD and IPD. After this, the court directed that junior doctors should provide all essential services. This case is related to the murder and rape of a female doctor in RG Kar Hospital. Junior doctors are demanding speedy justice from the Supreme Court in this case. The next hearing of this case will be on October 14.
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