Kolkata: The state of West Bengal is witnessing a massive uproar following the murder and rape of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College. In response to the shocking incident, junior doctors across the state have been protesting for over a month, with healthcare services severely affected. Despite a Supreme Court order directing the doctors to return to work, the strike has continued for over 72 hours, leading to the collapse of the state’s healthcare system.
Junior doctors from all government medical colleges and hospitals in West Bengal are participating in the strike. As a result, medical services have been disrupted, and reports indicate that 29 patients have died due to the lack of timely treatment.
In an official statement, the West Bengal government confirmed that 29 patients have passed away due to the ongoing strike. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her regret over the situation, stating, “The disruption in healthcare services due to the junior doctors’ strike is unfortunate, and 29 people have lost their lives. The state government will provide financial assistance of ₹2 lakhs to each of the affected families.”
However, the junior doctors have denied these allegations, claiming that no healthcare services have been disrupted. According to their statement, senior doctors have been working tirelessly to ensure patients receive the necessary care. They argued that patients in West Bengal often die due to inadequate healthcare services even before the strike, blaming the state government for attempting to shift the focus of its failure onto the protesting doctors.
The protest stems from the murder and rape of a female doctor at RG Kar Medical College, which has sparked outrage among junior doctors. The strike has been ongoing for over a month. On September 9, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, heard the RG Kar case and instructed junior doctors to resume work by 5 PM on September 10. The court also granted the state government the authority to take appropriate action if the doctors failed to comply.
Despite the Supreme Court’s directive, the junior doctors remain firm in their protest, and the healthcare system in West Bengal continues to struggle under the pressure of the ongoing strike.