Kolkata: The West Bengal government reached out to junior doctors on Tuesday, seeking dialogue over their protests against the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College. But it was an awkward approach from the government, as one of the demands has been the replacement of the Health Secretary and the Director of Medical Education; thus, communication from the Health Secretary per se is “humiliating” in their view.

Response by the Doctors to the Invitation by the Government

The protesting doctors said in a media interaction that they were willing to communicate, but getting an e-mail from the Health Secretary is not acceptable. They said the communication should come from the Chief Minister’s Office as it showed disrespect to their movement with the way things are happening.

We feel that there is no scope for communication with the Health Secretary,” said one of the doctors. They added that they would consider revising their stance if a more appropriate channel was created for dialogue.

Disobedience to Supreme Court Order

The junior doctors are in no mood to relent despite a Supreme Court order on September 9 asking them to resume work before 5 pm on Tuesday. The court had assured them that no punitive action, including transfers, would be taken against those who resumed duty.

But the doctors have refused to budge and continued their cease work until the demands are met. The demands include removal of Kolkata Police Commissioner, Health Secretary, Director of Health Services, and Director of Medical Education.

Government’s Efforts to Resolve the Crisis

Chandrima Bhattacharya, MoS, Health and Family Welfare, said Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had waited at her chamber to meet the protesting doctors, but received no response. The West Bengal government has invited a delegation of 10 doctors for talks, but as of yet, the standoff remains unresolved.

The Tragic Incident

These protests erupted after a trainee doctor of RG Kar Medical College, Kolkata was raped and murdered. Her semi-naked body was found in the seminar hall of the hospital on August 9, which triggered outrage and a countrywide demand to upgrade safety measures for health workers.

The protests have brought the state’s healthcare system to a grinding halt as junior doctors demand justice and workplace safety. Efforts by the state government have fallen short as doctors remain adamant that unless their demands are met, they will not return to work.