Junior doctors, who have been protesting in West Bengal over the tragic rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, have announced that they will leave the protest site and partially return to work. Essential services will be prioritized as they continue to demand justice and improved safety for doctors.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front will organize a march to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) office , aiming to press for a faster conclusion to the investigation. The march is scheduled for Saturday, and the junior doctors hope to bring urgency to their demands. Dr. Aqib Ashraf, spokesperson for the Front, informed the media about their decision to vacate the protest site by Friday and march to the CGO Complex, where the CBI office is located.
Dr. Ashraf emphasized that while some essential services will resume, other operations like outpatient departments (OPDs) and cold surgeries will remain suspended. He explained, “Now the movement needs to be taken forward in a new way,” signaling a shift in their approach to the protest. This partial return to duty is motivated by ongoing safety concerns, particularly for female doctors working in hospitals, and the doctors continue to demand that the government urgently address these issues.
While some of the doctors’ demands have been acknowledged, many others remain unresolved, according to another representative, Adeeb Ashraf. Tomorrow will mark the 42nd day of the protest, highlighting the prolonged nature of the doctors’ grievances.
The junior doctors have announced that they will return to work on Saturday, September 21, but their strike will not be fully over. They have given the West Bengal government a one-week deadline to meet all of their remaining demands. If the government fails to take action within this time, they have vowed to escalate the strike once again. “Our fight for justice is not over,” the junior doctors declared, emphasizing their ongoing determination to see the issues resolved.
In a related development, the West Bengal Medical Council has taken action against Sandeep Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Hospital. The council has canceled Ghosh’s registration after he failed to provide an explanation for his actions following the tragic incident. An inquiry had been initiated earlier, but after 13 days without a response from Ghosh, the council proceeded with the cancellation of his registration.
This decision is seen as part of the broader response to the outcry from junior doctors and the medical community over the lack of safety and accountability in the healthcare system. The cancellation of Ghosh’s registration is a significant development in the ongoing saga surrounding the hospital.
