THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
Kolkata, Oct 8: In a significant display of solidarity with the protesting junior doctors, 50 senior faculty members at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have resigned today amidst the turmoil surrounding the rape and murder of a trainee doctor.
The decision for mass resignations arose from the lack of response from the relevant authorities to address the situation.
Around 15 senior doctors showed their support for their junior colleagues by taking part in a symbolic hunger strike earlier today.
Demands of protesting doctors
Since Saturday, the junior doctors have been on a hunger strike, demanding justice for their colleague while opposing an alleged corruption-threat syndicate. They are also seeking improvements in campus democracy and the establishment of a patient-friendly system at the institution.
In addition, they are calling for a centralized referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges across the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the creation of task forces to secure vital amenities, including CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.
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They are further demanding stronger police protection in hospitals, the recruitment of permanent female police officers, and the prompt hiring of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers for vacant positions.
On Monday, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant assured that 90 per cent of the current projects at medical colleges in the state would be finished by next month and urged the protesting doctors to resume their duties.
Background of doctors’ protest
On August 9, a 31-year-old female trainee doctor was found with injuries in a seminar hall at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. An autopsy later revealed that she had been raped before being murdered. The accused, Sanjoy Roy, a civic volunteer, was arrested on August 10.
The junior doctors began protests and work boycotts following the incident.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is examining the case, has filed charges against Sanjoy Roy, who previously worked as a contractual staff member for the Kolkata Police, for the rape and murder of the doctor.
The protest concluded after 42 days on September 21, following commitments from the state government to address their demands.
However, the doctors resumed their work boycott on October 1 after an incident where a patient’s family assaulted medics at the state-run College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital the week before. They later called off the work boycott on October 4 and initiated a sit-in and ‘fast-unto-death’ protest the following day.
