RG Kar Impasse: Junior Doctors Persist with Strike Following Unsuccessful Talks with West Bengal Government

The second round of discussions between junior doctors and West Bengal government officials on Wednesday did not resolve the ongoing strike over the RG Kar issue. The doctors claimed the state refused to provide written minutes of the meeting. Consequently, they decided to continue their protest until the government issues written directives on doctor safety in state hospitals, as discussed in the meeting.

The meeting, which took place at Nabanna, began at 7:30 pm, an hour later than scheduled, and lasted over five hours. The state-level public healthcare task force, led by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, met with a group of 30 junior doctors. Despite smooth proceedings, the government did not provide signed minutes of the discussions, leaving the doctors feeling disappointed.

Protests and Demands

Massive protests erupted in Kolkata following the alleged rape and murder of an RG Kar hospital trainee doctor. Allegations of corruption in government healthcare facilities have also surfaced. These events have led to demands for action against Health Secretary N S Nigam. The doctors are calling for a departmental inquiry into Nigam's conduct.

The junior doctors highlighted several issues during the meeting. They focused on their safety within state-run hospitals and discussed the formation and functions of a promised task force. They also addressed transparency in referral systems, patient bed allocation, recruitment of healthcare workers, and ending campus threats.

Government Response

The government acknowledged that most demands were reasonable and required immediate action. However, disappointment arose when Chief Secretary Manoj Pant refused to provide signed meeting minutes. An unsigned document released later revealed that junior doctors demanded an inquiry into Principal Health Secretary's alleged misconduct over recent years.

The government suggested sending 4-5 representatives to the state task force on safety and security. However, doctors proposed broader representation from all medical colleges. Both parties agreed on deploying female police officers for night patrols, installing panic buttons in departments, and establishing helplines for quick intervention.

Continued Agitation

Despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request for medics to end their strike since August 9, when the trainee doctor's body was found at RG Kar hospital, protests continue outside Swasthya Bhawan. The demonstration has been ongoing for nine days as doctors await fulfillment of their conditions from talks.

In response to demands, Banerjee transferred Kolkata police chief Vineet Goyal and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma as his replacement while removing two senior health department officials. Senior Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee urged junior doctors to end their protest and work with the government to implement task force initiatives promptly.

The protesting doctors plan to send an email detailing their demands based on which they expect government directives. They will decide on further actions once these directives are issued. Meanwhile, they continue their sit-in outside Swasthya Bhawan until their conditions are met.