Ongoing protests at Sagar Dutta Medical College spark wider action; junior doctors threaten to shut down medical services across the state if demands for improved security are not met.
News Highlights:
- Junior doctors at Sagar Dutta Medical College continue their strike, citing security concerns after a violent attack on hospital staff by a patient’s relatives.
- A state-wide full strike is planned to begin Monday afternoon if safety demands are not addressed.
- The doctors await the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing on Monday related to hospital security measures.
- The strike began after a patient’s family allegedly assaulted junior doctors and vandalized hospital property.
- The doctors have presented a 10-point demand list to the government, stating they will not return to work until these demands are met.
- Despite assurances from the Health Secretary and Police Commissioner, the doctors remain firm in their stance.
- A candlelight march has been planned for Sunday evening, inviting public support.
Junior doctors across West Bengal are once again on the verge of a full-scale strike, citing ongoing security concerns in state hospitals. The protest, led by the junior doctors at Sagar Dutta Medical College in Panihati, comes after a violent incident on Friday night in which a patient’s relatives attacked hospital staff following the patient’s death. The doctors have vowed to continue their strike unless their 10-point demand list is met by the state government.
The situation escalated on Saturday, when members of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) held a General Body (GB) meeting, following which they announced plans to halt services across all medical colleges and hospitals in the state from Monday afternoon. According to the junior doctors, their decision will depend on the outcome of a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for Monday, which will address hospital security issues in the state.
Incident Sparks Outrage
The unrest began on Friday night after the death of a patient at Sagar Dutta Medical College. The deceased’s family members, allegedly enraged by the hospital’s handling of the case, reportedly stormed the hospital’s fourth floor and launched an attack on junior doctors. In the ensuing chaos, hospital equipment was damaged, and the women’s ward was vandalized. Several female doctors were allegedly dragged out of their rooms and beaten.
Despite the intervention of the police, who arrived shortly after the incident, it took significant effort to bring the situation under control. Seven medical staff members, including doctors and nurses, were injured in the attack. The junior doctors, citing a lack of adequate security, immediately initiated a strike, which was later joined by hospital nurses.
Security Demands and Government Response
On Saturday, representatives from the WBJDF, including Kinjal Nanda and Debasish Halder, visited Sagar Dutta Medical College to assess the situation. They spent the day monitoring the situation and consulting with junior doctors who had been affected by the violence. According to the WBJDF, this incident is not isolated and underscores the broader issue of insufficient security in government hospitals across the state.
West Bengal’s Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam and Barrackpore Police Commissioner Alok Rajoria also visited the hospital on Saturday. Nigam held meetings with hospital authorities to discuss security measures, while Rajoria inspected the premises and offered assurances that security would be improved. However, despite these visits, the junior doctors remained unmoved, insisting that their demands must be met before they end their strike.
The junior doctors have presented a 10-point demand list, which includes calls for improved security measures, increased police presence in hospitals, and better protection for doctors on duty. They have made it clear that they will not resume work until all their demands are addressed. The doctors argue that the promises made to them following previous strikes have not been fulfilled, as evidenced by the recent attack at Sagar Dutta Medical College.
Upcoming Strike and Public Demonstration
The junior doctors’ plan for a full-scale strike across the state hinges on the outcome of Monday’s Supreme Court hearing, in which the West Bengal government is expected to provide an update on hospital security measures. One junior doctor stated, “We will observe the state government’s response and the Supreme Court’s verdict. If our security concerns are not addressed, we will go on strike from Monday afternoon.”
As part of their protest, the junior doctors have also organized a candlelight march on Sunday evening. The march will begin at Sagar Dutta Medical College and proceed to Dunlop Crossing. The doctors have invited members of the public to join the demonstration, hoping to raise awareness about the ongoing security concerns faced by medical professionals in the state.
Despite the government’s assurances of improved safety measures, the junior doctors are determined to continue their protest until they see tangible results. As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on Monday’s Supreme Court hearing, which could determine whether the doctors’ strike will expand to a statewide scale.