The junior doctors protesting over RG Kar Medical College rape and murder case called off their hunger strike on Monday. The decision by the doctors came after their two-hour-long meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The meeting took place at state secretariat Nabanna. In addition to the call off, the doctors also announced to withdraw the strike which was scheduled for Tuesday by all doctors, including the senior medical practitioners. However, the doctors cleared that their movement will continue over this issue. The Indian Express quoted Asfaqulla Naiya, a representative of junior doctors who said that they will not flee from the battleground. “We will continue our fight for justice as well as safety at medical colleges and hospitals,” added Naiya.

They went on hunger strike on October 5 in Dharmatala stressing that the West Bengal government did not fulfil their demands.

What Did The Junior Doctors Say?

Speaking about the meeting with Mamata Banerjee, a Junior Doctor, Debashish Halder told PTI that they have got assurance of directives, but body language of the West Bengal Government wasn’t positive. He said that they have been receiving the support of people who have requested them to call of the hunger strike because of their deteriorating health. Debashish informed that they have withdrawn the fast-unto-death hunger strike. They have withdrawn the hunger strike after 17 days.

“In today’s meeting, we did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive… The common people have wholeheartedly supported us. They, as well as the parents of our deceased sister (RG Kar hospital victim), have been requesting us to call off the hunger strike, keeping in mind our deteriorating health. We are therefore withdrawing our ‘fast-unto-death’ and also Tuesday’s total shutdown in the health sector,” said Debashish.

Takeaways From The Meeting

In their meeting with West Bengal CM, junior doctors emphasised on establishing task force and grievance committees in every medical colleges with adequate representation from doctors.

Debashish further talked about state task force and said that their earlier agreements can be realised more effectively if a SoP is formed for the State Task Force formation and a monthly meeting of the task force ensured, along with directives for the same.

The delegation informed that they have requested that the government to publish the investigation details so that people should know how some doctors got promoted or got gold medals even when they didn’t have the calibre to secure even passing marks.

It has been announced in the meeting that safety and security of doctors and other staff members will be ensured at medical colleges and hospitals. A state-level 10-member task force with five representatives each from the government and the junior doctors have been directed to constitute. It has been decided that at least one woman will represent the junior doctors in the task force.

It is informed that Mamata Banerjee has also stressed on transparency in medical examinations. She said, “The government will have to ensure that nobody indulges in any form of cheating. We have information that many students did this for two years. I don’t want to disclose that.”

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