Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Kolkata are on the sixth day of a hunger strike demanding justice for their colleague, who was tragically raped and murdered. The protest has escalated as the health of one doctor, Aniket Mahato, has critically deteriorated, necessitating hospitalization.
Critical Condition Of A Doctor
Mahato was admitted to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday night after suffering serious health issues due to continuous fasting since Sunday. He arrived in an unconscious state and is currently receiving oxygen and other vital treatments. Dr. Soma Mukhopadhyay, the head of the Coronary Care Unit, expressed concern, stating, “His condition is quite unstable, but we hope for improvement in the coming days. A five-member medical board has been set up to monitor his treatment closely.”
Health Decline Among Other Protesters
The situation is dire for other junior doctors participating in the hunger strike. Reports indicate that the health of six additional medics has also begun to decline. Debasish Halder, a junior doctor present at the protest site in Esplanade, Kolkata, remarked, “We have all necessary medical support, including an ICU ambulance, ready for anyone who may need hospitalization.” The hunger strike will persist until the state government addresses their demands.
Urgent Appeals From Senior Medical Professionals
Senior doctors have voiced urgent concerns regarding the health of the protesting medics and are urging them to reconsider their fast. Dr. Hiralal Konar, a joint convenor of the Joint Platform of Doctors in West Bengal, criticized the government’s lack of action, stating, “These young doctors represent our future. It is unacceptable for the state government to remain indifferent. They must act swiftly before the situation worsens.”
Protesting Doctors’ Demands
The protesting doctors are demanding justice for their deceased colleague and have called for the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam. Their demands encompass a centralized referral system for hospitals and medical colleges, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the establishment of task forces to ensure essential amenities such as CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms in their workplaces.
Furthermore, they are seeking enhanced police protection in hospitals, the recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and the prompt filling of vacancies for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.
The junior doctors initiated their hunger strike following the devastating incident involving their colleague on August 9. They had previously halted work for 42 days until September 21, after receiving assurances from the state government to address their grievances.
