In response to the ongoing agitation by junior doctors at Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital, the administration has ramped up security measures. The number of police personnel at the hospital’s outpost has increased from 28 to 40, and additional CCTV cameras are being installed across the hospital premises.
Tensions escalated on Friday night following the death of a patient, which led to an altercation where family members allegedly assaulted junior doctors on the fourth floor of the hospital. They also reportedly vandalized the women’s ward and physically attacked female doctors. As a result, seven individuals, including doctors and nurses, sustained injuries. This incident prompted junior doctors to begin a strike, with nurses joining the protest on Saturday.
The doctors are demanding enhanced security and have set up a protest platform on the hospital grounds. They have declared that they will not return to work until their demands for a safe working environment are met. The protestors are also closely monitoring what actions the hospital administration will take against the “culture of threats” allegedly present at the hospital.
In light of these concerns, hospital authorities held multiple discussions about security. Senior officials, including Narayan Swaroop Nigam, the state health secretary, and Alok Rajoria, the police commissioner of Barrackpore, visited the hospital to review the security situation and assure the doctors of improvements.
Following these meetings, the decision was made to bolster security measures. The number of police personnel on site increased to 40, and the installation of CCTV cameras commenced on Sunday morning. However, the junior doctors remain skeptical, stating that the Supreme Court had previously mandated the installation of 360 CCTV cameras within 14 days, but the work only started on the 12th day, and so far, only 40 cameras have arrived.
Despite these measures, the junior doctors continue their strike, demanding full assurance of safety before returning to duty.