Bengal: Junior Docs Withdraw ‘Fast Unto Death’, to Continue Week-End Protests

Kolkata: After 10 days of their 'fast unto death', protesting junior doctors on Monday climbed down and called off the hunger strike following an appeal made by the RG Kar victim’s parents. However, the doctors said they would continue with "week-end protests".

The ‘fast unto death’ by junior doctors, spanning over 240 hours, was over a 10-point demand charter demanding the immediate arrest of all perpetrators of the murder of Tilottama/Abhaya (as named by the protesters), erosion of ‘threat culture’ in the state’s medical sector, removal of the state health secretary , filling up vacancies in state-run medical services, proper restroom facilities and surveillance facilities, workplace security, election to all student bodies in the health sector, eradication of corruption in the West Bengal Medical Council and West Bengal Health Recruitment Board with immediate effect, a central referral system in all medical colleges and hospitals, digital bed vacancy monitor in all medical colleges  and hospitals, among others.

Contrary to some reports, the junior doctors (other than those on fast), though on a warpath with the state government, had already joined their hospital duty to ensure that patients do not suffer, and were taking part protest rallies in their off hours.

However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee remained reluctant to adhere to some of the key demands raised by the junior doctors, who have given a call for a state-wide strike in the health sector on Wednesday.

Following the strike call, on Monday, the Chief Minister, Chief Secretary, Home Secretary and others held an over two-hour-long meeting with a 17-member delegation of junior doctors, where it was decided to form a state-level task force in the health sector, including five representatives of the junior doctors. The meeting was live-streamed on Bengal’s electronic media. 

It was also decided to set up a college-level grievance mechanism. The Chief Minister also agreed to the demand for elected student bodies in the health sector by March next year.

However, the Chief Minister remained adamant on the demand for removal of the state health secretary.

As per reports, the junior doctors came out of the meeting “empty-handed” but decided to withdraw the hunger strike that had entered a crucial phase, as the health of the fasting doctors had started deteriorating in the past two days.

The call for a strike on Wednesday was also put off for now. Instead, the junior doctors have given a call for a Maha Samabesh (mega rally) before RG Kar Hospital on Saturday to decide their next course of action, said sources.

It may be recalled that after each round of talks with the Chief Minister or chief secretary, the junior doctors’ representatives came back to the protest site and held general body meetings to decide their next step.

In the meeting, the Chief minister was reportedly “snubbed” by the junior doctors when she “openly advocated for the suspended rogue doctors (accused of instigating ‘threat culture’ in RG Kar Hospital). “Madam, don’t stand up for notorious elements who had ushered this culture in RG Kar Hospital that took the life of Abhaya,” they reportedly told her.

NewsClick spoke to some patients to understand their take on the protest by junior doctors.

Shaktinath Banerjee, 73, a regular patient in SSKM Hospital, who is undregoing treatment for advanced osteoarthritis and diabetes, said the doctors’ demands, if fulfilled, would help patients.

“Now there is a lack of transparency in the medical fraternity and the quality of drugs supplied is not up to the mark. The movement started by the doctors is the right step,” he said, noting that while junior doctors had been on strike, senior doctors had worked overtime to attend to patients in their respective departments.

Dr Subarna Goswami, a representative of senior doctors and one of the leaders of doctors’ movement, told NewsClick that there “is no question of buckling down. The movement will continue, and whether a strike is imminent or not will depend on the progress of the state government on the promise it has made to deliver justice to the junior doctors and the medical fraternity.”