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77 senior doctors from Kalyani J.N.M. Hospital have threatened to resign en masse in solidarity with junior doctors who are currently on a hunger strike. This protest aims to demand justice for a junior doctor who was raped and murdered at R.G. Kar Hospital. The senior doctors formally notified the Registrar of West Bengal Health University via email, stating their intention to cease work starting October 14 if their demands are not met.
The doctors expressed deep concerns over their mental health, describing the situation as “mentally devastating” and voicing their inability to continue working under such distressing circumstances. They highlighted the deteriorating health of junior doctors on hunger strike, who are now in their ninth day of fasting, and criticized the state government's lack of decisive action to resolve these issues.
In their communication, the Kalyani doctors reaffirmed their solidarity with the junior medics, emphasizing that the agitation is not just about the tragic incident at R.G. Kar Hospital but also about pressing for broader healthcare reforms. The junior doctors are demanding the immediate removal of Health Secretary N.S. Nigam, improved workplace security measures, and other vital reforms aimed at ensuring the safety of medical staff and patients alike.
As tensions rise, the Kalyani J.N.M. Hospital doctors have given the state government until October 14 to take meaningful action to address these demands. If there is no response, they plan to submit their mass resignation formally, adding to the growing list of resignations from various state-run medical institutions. Recent collective resignations from senior doctors at other hospitals, including RG Kar and North Bengal Medical College, indicate widespread discontent and a call for accountability within the healthcare system.
The government’s response has been dismissive, declaring that the mass resignations are invalid unless submitted individually, citing service rules. This has only intensified the frustration among the medical community, with many calling for immediate dialogue to address their concerns.