Senior Doctors Join Hunger Strike in Support of Junior Doctors’ in Kolkata
In a powerful show of solidarity, senior doctors joined junior doctors in their ongoing protest at Dharmatala, Kolkata. On Monday morning, around ten senior doctors began a 24-hour symbolic hunger strike to support the demands of junior doctors, who have been staging an indefinite hunger strike since Saturday night. The senior doctors urged the government to take the junior doctors’ demands seriously, believing that their fulfillment would significantly improve the overall healthcare system.
Junior doctors are demanding justice for the RG Kar victim, improvements to hospital infrastructure, and increased security measures, with a 10-point agenda as the core of their movement. While junior doctors initially resorted to a full strike, they have since shifted to an indefinite hunger strike starting Saturday night. Monday marked the third day of their hunger strike.
Over the weekend, senior doctors also began showing their support, with three senior physicians joining a 12-hour symbolic hunger strike on Sunday. Two of these doctors were from government hospitals, while the other was from a private hospital in Kolkata. Alongside them, a representative from a citizen’s forum also participated in the 12-hour symbolic strike on Sunday.
On Monday morning, more senior doctors participated in the symbolic strike, expressing full solidarity with the demands of the junior doctors. Initially, six senior doctors had joined the indefinite hunger strike on Saturday night, though questions were raised as to why no representative from RG Kar hospital had been present. However, after the first 24 hours, representatives from RG Kar joined the protest, with seven junior doctors now continuing the indefinite hunger strike at Dharmatala.
Among those participating in the hunger strike are prominent junior doctors such as PG resident Anustup Mukhopadhyay from Kolkata Medical College, oncology resident Snigdha Hazra, and PG residents from various other hospitals including SSKM, NRS, and KPC Hospital.
The “Joint Platform of Doctors” had previously announced its intention to support the junior doctors by joining the hunger strike. However, there has been no direct involvement of the platform in the 12-hour symbolic hunger strike held by senior doctors on Sunday or the 24-hour strike on Monday. The senior doctors have joined the strike in their individual capacities, extending their message of solidarity to the junior doctors’ cause.
This movement highlights the growing concerns regarding the state of healthcare infrastructure and security in hospitals across Kolkata, with both senior and junior doctors united in their calls for reform. The protest is expected to continue, with pressure mounting on the government to address the pressing demands.
