Junior physicians at RG Kar Hospital decided to partially restore critical services on Friday, ending their 42-day strike in protest at their colleague’s rape and murder.
This verdict came after a week of protests outside the state health department’s headquarters, culminating in a march to the CBI office. According to PTI, the 4 mile march from “Swasthya Bhawan” to the CGO Complex was intended to exert pressure on the CBI to wrap up its probe into the case as soon as possible.
It was announced by the medics that they would be returning to emergency and essential services, but would not be working in the outpatient department (OPD).
Thousands of people came out for a massive 42-kilometer torch march on Friday night in a show of solidarity, calling for justice for the young doctor who was killed at the same time as the junior physicians decided to call off their strike.
We are cancelling our “cease work” for today. One of the junior physicians told PTI, “We will partially join duties concerning emergency and essential services starting tomorrow.”
“We will be partially resuming emergency and essential services starting on Saturday, given the flood situation in West Bengal and the government’s agreement to some of our demands,” a doctor stated.
However, another doctor in protest cautioned, “We will again start our agitation if the assurances and promises (by the government) are not fulfilled.”
Chief Secretary Manoj Pant issued a list of directives on the safety, security, and conducive environment for healthcare professionals on Wednesday, following up on issues discussed in the meeting between the agitated junior doctors and the state task force. The directives stated that they needed to be implemented immediately, which led to the decision to call off the “cease work” on Thursday night.