The controversy over the rape and murder of a female intern at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital is not stopping. The indefinite hunger strike by junior doctors for various demands continued for the 10th day on Monday. There is no solution to this impasse as the meeting between doctors and the state government remained inconclusive. The important meeting between representatives of 12 medical associations and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant at Swasthya Bhavan ended without any solution. The doctors were hoping that the state government would set a clear timeline to fulfill their demands, but according to sources, the administration was reluctant to commit to any timeline. On the other hand, the health of two more doctors involved in the ‘fast unto death’ is reported to be deteriorating.
The doctors’ hunger strike was started on October 5 in protest against the heinous incident that took place at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital on August 9. After the rape and murder of a female trainee doctor of the hospital, the junior doctors had observed ‘work strike’ for about 50 days in two phases. Seven junior doctors are on hunger strike till late Monday night, some of whom are in need of immediate treatment.
Doctors’ health deteriorating due to hunger strike
Officials said that Pulastha Acharya of NRS Medical College and Hospital was admitted to the hospital on Sunday night after suffering severe stomach pain. A senior doctor at NRS Medical College and Hospital said, “Pulastha is admitted in the Critical Care Unit (CCU) and his condition has deteriorated. We have constituted a medical board to treat him.”
Tanya Panja, another junior doctor at Kolkata Medical College, also fell ill in the afternoon. A protesting doctor said, “Her (Tanya’s) condition is not good and she is currently under observation at the protest site.” We have not yet decided whether he needs to be admitted to hospital.” Panja is one of the junior doctors whose health has deteriorated since the fast began, three others have already been admitted to hospitals in Kolkata and Siliguri. Has been admitted. Earlier, three junior doctors who were fasting in Kolkata and Siliguri city have been admitted to the hospital after their condition deteriorated.
The total number of doctors currently fasting is seven, which includes a junior doctor from the ENT department of North Bengal Medical College who joined the strike this afternoon.
talks inconclusive
An important meeting of representatives of 12 associations of doctors with Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Monday ended without any result as the doctors expected a clear timeline to fulfill their demands, but the government reportedly did not make any progress. Was reluctant to commit to timelines. Dr Kaushik Chaki, president of West Bengal Doctors Forum, said, “The meeting remained inconclusive. We requested the state government to send an officer to talk to the young doctors on hunger strike and the highest ranking officer should be given preference. However, the Chief Secretary indicated that he could not give any timeline.
After the meeting, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant said, “We had detailed talks which lasted for about two and a half hours. Many concerns were expressed and we took cognizance of them. We discussed in detail regarding the demands of junior doctors. Of the 10 demands, seven have been met.” He said, ”For the remaining three demands, they were requesting specific timelines. These are administrative decisions that the state needs to consider, so we cannot give any timeline at this time. We assured them that we have taken note of their issues and complaints. We urged him to persuade the doctors to call off his hunger strike as we are concerned about his health.”
