After a 42-day strike, junior doctors in West Bengal have decided to end their “cease-work” and resume essential services starting this Saturday, September 21, 2024. The strike had been initiated following the tragic rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024. This event triggered widespread protests from medical professionals across the state, demanding improved safety and security in hospitals.
The protesting doctors reached their decision to resume services after the West Bengal government agreed to implement several of their demands. These include enhanced safety measures, such as increased CCTV surveillance, proper on-duty facilities for healthcare workers, and the deployment of police officers, including women, at hospitals. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier appealed to the doctors, emphasizing the urgency of providing healthcare services amidst ongoing floods in the state(Rediff)(Telegraph India).
However, the doctors made it clear that this resumption is only partial. They will not participate in outpatient department (OPD) duties or perform elective surgeries until all their demands are fully met. If the government fails to implement the promised safety measures within the next seven days, the doctors have threatened to reinstate the strike(Rediff)(Telegraph India).
To conclude this phase of the protest, the doctors plan to organize a march from Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department, to the CBI office in Salt Lake on Friday, September 20. They continue to push for justice and improvements in working conditions to ensure a safe environment for healthcare professionals(Telegraph India).
While the strike has been disruptive, the doctors are also taking responsibility for the ongoing flood crisis in Bengal, planning to run “Abhaya Clinics” in flood-affected areas to provide medical care to those in need(Rediff)(Telegraph India).
This development marks a significant step towards resolving the crisis in West Bengal’s healthcare system, but the situation remains fluid as the doctors await the government’s action on their demands.
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