On Wednesday, the junior doctors sought for a meeting again with the state government due to their unfulfilled demands, which adds up to suspensions, security in hospitals, and sought for the resignation of the state Health Secretary.
Letter sent by the junior doctors
A fresh letter was sent by the junior doctors to the Chief Secretary Manoj Pant after the last meeting to request for another meeting. Last night, in a press conference, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front also declared that they’ll keep their work halted unless and until “ all the demands are fulfilled”.
Furthermore, after Tuesday’s meeting, the West Bengal government dismissed and transferred Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta, Director of Health Services Debashish Halder and Director of Medical Education Dr. Kaustav Nayak.
Picture credit: Deccan Chronicle
The junior doctors called the state government’s transfer a ‘ partial victory’.
Their letter to the CS stated, “ In relation to our last meeting with our Hon’ble CM, we would like to restate that there were few of the key points related to our five- point demands which were left unfulfilled. Especially our fourth and fifth point, emphasizing the growth of the healthcare system, security, safety and prevailing threat culture. An assurance was given to us that a special task force supervised by you will be initiated to address these issues and further discussions will be taking place on its functioning and administering. We’ll be pleased and grateful if you consented a meeting with us regarding the same. It would be our utmost gratitude if the meeting gets commenced and eagerly waiting for your positive response”. This message highlights the continuing process of seeking surety and attention over their demands, which they sternly believe has a critical effect on the welfare of both medical professionals and patients.
The meeting of the junior doctors with the CM
Earlier on Monday, after two continuous failed attempts for negotiation and to come to a point, for a two hour consolidation almost 30 junior doctors met Chief Minister Banerjee at her Kalighat residence. The state government had assigned this meeting as a “ fifth and final invitation for negotiations”. It was originally scheduled for 5pm, the meet began by 7 pm and lasted till 9 pm.
On Monday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had stated that her government has given consent to many of the demands forwarded by the junior doctors demands as they are “younger” in age, to which in a press conference the junior doctors stated that “ the CM gave a consent due to our widespread protest and not because we are young”.
Picture credit: The Indian Express
The cease of work by the junior doctors has aggressively affected the medical services all over the state; they are going on with the strike despite the claim by Banerjee that her government has initiated 99 percent of the doctor’s demands.
Moreover, the CM persuaded them to resume their work highlighting an exertion on the state’s medical infrastructure.
A junior Doctor claimed that “though the former Kolkata top cop Vineet Goyal was removed, we had also sought for the removal of the state health secretary NS Nigam. We were given an assurance that all our demands will be addressed and accepted”.
Genre: State/ local news
