India
RG Kar case: Bengal Governor, Kolkata Police express concern over deteriorating health of protesting doctors | India News – Times of India
“The Governor is deeply concerned about the deteriorating health condition of the troubled young doctors who have been on fast since Saturday. “On behalf of the people of Bengal, the civil society of India and as a father, he appealed to the doctors on hunger strike to end the hunger strike,” the official was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
The Governor visited the junior doctor at their strike site in Dharmatala and assured them to hold a peace meeting with all stakeholders soon to address the situation.
The location and time for the meeting have yet to be determined. “The power of the people is greater than that of the people in power. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” Bose said at the meeting.
The excited young medics presented Bose with a list of their ten demands at the meeting and asked for a possible permanent solution to the problems.
The protesting doctors have sought justice for the deceased woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. They have also called for the immediate removal of Health Minister NS Nigam from his post.
The doctors also demanded the setting up of a centralized referral system that would include all hospitals and medical colleges across the state and have also pushed for the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system along with setting up of task forces to ensure for essential facilities such as CCTV, on-call rooms and toilets at their workplaces.
Furthermore, the protesting doctors have emphasized the need for increased police protection in hospitals, including the recruitment of permanent female police personnel. They have also urged swift filling of vacancies for doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers.
Moreover, the Kolkata Police has expressed concern over the deteriorating health condition of Dr Aniket Mahato, a young doctor who has been on hunger strike at the Dorina crossing since October 5.
In a letter addressed to Dr Mahato, the Officer-in-Charge of Hare Street Police Station wrote: “I would like to mention that you have been on hunger strike since last Saturday at Dorina crossing and then on a stage forcibly erected without permission from the competent authority . .”
“Information from the display (about health parameters) kept in front of your stage as well as from other sources indicates that your condition is deteriorating. The Ministry of Health, Government of West Bengal has been requested to deploy a team of doctors for you,” he added.
Police urged Dr. Mahato to “vacate your current residence and seek medical attention to prevent further deterioration.” They assured him that all necessary logistical assistance would be provided.
The trainee doctors started going on strike after the tragic rape and murder of a fellow doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. After 42 days of protest, they ended their strike on September 21 after receiving assurances from the state government that their demands would be met.
