Agitating doctors to partially lift 'cease work', resume emergency services from Saturday

Public Lokpal
September 20, 2024

Kolkata : Agitating junior doctors announced to "partially" withdraw their 'cease work' and rejoin emergency and essential services at state-run hospitals from Saturday, as the West Bengal government has accepted most of their demands.

The medics, who have been on 'cease work' for the last 41 days following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, announced that they would lift their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan on Friday.

Before lifting the sit-in, they would march from Swasthya Bhawan, the state health department headquarters, to the CBI office at CGO Complex in the Salt Lake area.

"It has been decided that given the flood situation in West Bengal and the state government agreeing to certain demands of ours, we will be rejoining emergency and essential services partially from Saturday. We are withdrawing our cease work partially," an agitating doctor said on Thursday after their general body meeting.

The protesting doctors said they would not work in the Outpatient Department (OPD) but would partially work in emergency and essential services.

This decision came after the state government issued several directives regarding safety and security at hospitals and medical colleges.

The doctors emphasised that although they succeeded in getting the Kolkata Commissioner of Police, along with the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS), to step down, it "doesn't mean the agitation is over".

In response to the doctors' earlier demands, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee transferred Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma in his place, while also removing two senior health department officials.

After a meeting with the Chief Secretary on Wednesday, the doctors received a directive from the state secretariat Nabanna assuring them that safety and security measures would be implemented, Haldar said.

The doctors announced that on Friday, they would organise a march from Swasthya Bhawan to the CGO Complex to "conclude this phase of our protest".

The agitating doctors also announced that they would operate 'Abhaya Clinics' in flood-affected areas of West Bengal to help people in distress.

"There is a flood situation, and it is our duty to support those who stood by us. If they are facing a disaster, we should be there to help them. We will return to our hospitals and also conduct Abhaya Clinics in flood-affected areas," the agitating doctors said.

Agitating junior doctors on Thursday submitted to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant a draft of the key points of their meeting with the West Bengal government last night and were awaiting the state's response.

The West Bengal government on Thursday evening issued a list of directives on the safety, security and conducive environment for healthcare professionals, saying those orders need to be implemented immediately.

PTI