Junior doctors' strike at National Medical College continues

Kolkata, Nov 11: Junior doctors at state-run National Medical College and Hospital here today (Nov 11) continued their strike in protest against the alleged assault of some of their colleagues by relatives of a patient. The doctors, numbering around 50, went on strike last evening demanding that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who also holds the Health portfolio, speak to them.

Police said that while around 50 junior doctors were holding a sit-in demonstration near the emergency department, senior medical officers were working normally and treating patients. The striking doctors refused to join work despite assurances of security by the Health Department and police authorities.

Banerjee is on a visit to Maoist-affected Jangalmahal area and is expected to be back in the city tomorrow night. No untoward incident was reported today even as a section of relatives of patients last night blocked the road in front of the hospital protesting the strike, police said.

They were later removed by police and normal movement of traffic was ensured. A number of patients were, however, taken away to other hospitals as the strike has affected regular facilities like round-the-clock monitoring of patients generally done by junior doctors, officials said.

PTI