Kolkata Junior Doctors Continue Strike, Demand Meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee

Junior doctors protesting the RG Kar murder case declared they would persist with their sit-in and abstain from work. This decision comes despite the state appointing Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Kolkata Police chief, replacing Vineet Goyal, and removing two senior health department officials, which were among the medics' earlier demands. The doctors consider these administrative actions only a partial success for their movement.

The protestors issued a statement after their general body meeting, which began around 6:30 pm and continued past midnight. They demanded the removal of state health secretary NS Nigam, citing assurances from Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday regarding action on this matter. The doctors plan to email Chief Secretary Manoj Pant after daybreak to request another meeting with the Chief Minister later in the day.

Demands for Safety and Security

The junior doctors are also calling for discussions on enhancing safety and security within hospital premises. They seek clarity on how the government intends to utilise the Rs 100 crore allocated for improving doctor safety in state-run hospitals. "No effective security measures can be implemented in hospitals without a thorough overhaul of public healthcare delivery mechanism including streamlining of the referral system, the appointment of health workers and professional patient counsellors, plugging of admission corruption and ensuring availability of life-saving drugs," stated the protestors.

Additionally, they demand immediate notification of a task force led by the chief secretary in medical colleges, as promised during a meeting at Banerjee's residence on Monday. The doctors also insist on holding student body elections and ensuring adequate representation of junior doctors in the highest policy-making bodies of these institutions.

Administrative Changes and Promises

Earlier, the state government appointed Verma as the new city police commissioner, replacing Goyal. This change followed a meeting between Banerjee and the protesting junior doctors, where she agreed to their demands to resolve the month-long impasse over the RG Kar hospital incident. Director of Health Services Debashis Halder, Director of Medical Education Kaustav Nayak, and Deputy Commissioner of Kolkata Police's North Division Abhishek Gupta were also removed as Banerjee had promised during the meeting.

Swapan Soren was appointed interim Director of Health Services, though no announcement was made for filling the Director of Medical Education position. These changes come after Banerjee's extensive discussions with the doctors on Monday night, where she decided to remove Goyal due to criticism over his handling of a rape and murder case involving a woman doctor at RG Kar hospital.

The ongoing protests highlight significant concerns about safety and representation within medical institutions. The junior doctors remain firm in their demands for comprehensive reforms to ensure their safety and improve healthcare delivery systems across state-run hospitals.