Bengal doctors to decide future course of action after appeal to review strike

After a section of senior doctors urged their juniors in West Bengal to review the 'total cease of work', protesting doctors convened a meeting to decide their future course of action.

In Short

• Junior doctors resumed 'total cease work' demanding safety in hospitals
• Protesters to announce decisions after assessing the situation
• Senior doctors urged partial service resumption amid patient suffering

Protesting junior doctors in West Bengal on Thursday held a meeting to decide their future course of action after a section of senior medics urged them to reconsider their 'complete cease work' in light of the sufferings of ordinary patients.

Earlier on October 1, the protesting junior doctors in West Bengal resumed their indefinite 'total cease work' to press for various demands, including ensuring their safety and security at all medical establishments following the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical Centre and Hospital.

Speaking to the news agency PTI, one of the protesting doctors, Aniket Mahato, said, "We will hold a general body meeting at RG Kar hospital shortly. It may take time, but we will inform you of our decision by early tomorrow morning."

On being asked if they would consider a partial withdrawal of the agitation due to the ongoing sufferings of patients, the flood situation, and the upcoming Durga Puja festival, Mahato responded, "We will discuss everything. We need to assess the current situation since our demands for security have so far not been addressed by the government."

While the requests from several senior doctors to resume partial services, such as outpatient department (OPD) care, were being considered, the "total cease work" would remain until the West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front formally announces its next steps.

Senior doctor Maitrayee Bandyopadhyay, head of the microbiology department at RG Kar hospital, said, "We all want justice for the raped-murdered woman doctor. My suggestion is for the junior medics to partially withdraw the cease work and provide emergency and OPD services. Agitation and work can continue simultaneously."

Junior doctors had previously gone for a complete cease work for 41 days after the rape-murder of a fellow medic on August 9 at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

They ended their strike on September 21 after discussions with state officials and resumed essential services, following directives aimed at ensuring safety and efficient healthcare services.

However, following an attack on doctors and nurses by a deceased patient's family at Sagore Dutta Hospital, the situation deteriorated again.