Junior doctors in West Bengal ended their 17-day hunger strike after a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at Nabanna, the state secretariat. The strike was launched in response to the rape and murder of a female medical student at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College, a case that sparked outrage among the medical community. The doctors demanded justice, immediate safety reforms in state-run hospitals, better working conditions, and changes in hospital administration.
During the two-hour meeting, which was live-streamed, Banerjee addressed the doctors' grievances but rejected their demand for the removal of state Health Secretary N S Nigam. However, she assured that the government was working on fulfilling their other demands. Banerjee announced the creation of a grievance redressal mechanism specifically for doctors to voice their concerns. She emphasized that the government is committed to improving hospital conditions, upgrading infrastructure, and enhancing safety protocols to protect medical staff in public healthcare institutions.
The junior doctors expressed deep concerns about a “threat culture” in hospitals, where administrators allegedly misuse their authority to suspend doctors without proper cause. This led the doctors to demand legal safeguards to prevent arbitrary disciplinary actions. Banerjee questioned why these suspensions were carried out without government approval, and promised to review and address such administrative issues.
During the strike, six doctors had to be hospitalized due to serious health concerns after days without food, while eight others continued their fast until the meeting. Despite calling off their protest, the junior doctors issued a warning to the state administration: if substantial progress is not made by October 22, they will resume protests, including a potential statewide doctors' strike.
The doctors also demanded long-term reforms, including better healthcare infrastructure, faster recruitment of medical professionals, improved patient care, and a reduction in administrative bottlenecks. Banerjee urged the doctors to return to their duties immediately, emphasizing the government’s commitment to resolving systemic issues in the healthcare sector. She assured that the government would work to create a safer and more efficient environment for both doctors and patients.
Additionally, Banerjee promised to look into tightening security measures in all government hospitals, ensuring the safety of healthcare workers, and streamlining administrative procedures to prevent such incidents in the future. The state government, she added, would also seek to strengthen coordination between different medical departments to better manage patient load and enhance the quality of care.