17 september 2024 : Junior doctors, who have been on strike for 38 days following the rape and murder of a colleague at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, are expected to decide on ending their strike on Tuesday afternoon. This decision hinges on the government fulfilling its commitment to remove Police Commissioner Vineet Kumar Goyal and two health officials. The Supreme Court had directed the doctors to resume work by 5 pm on August 10.
Debaish Halder, a junior doctor, stated, “We have received verbal assurances but will not make any decision regarding the strike or sit-in until these assurances are fulfilled. We will make our decision after the Supreme Court’s hearing on Tuesday.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who met with 42 junior doctors for about six hours on Monday, said the doctors had called for the removal of the state health secretary, and the directors of health services and medical education. “How can we run the administration if we remove all three at once? We have agreed to remove the directors as the doctors lack confidence in them, but we cannot disrespect them,” she explained.
Banerjee added that Goyal’s removal will follow the Supreme Court’s hearing on Tuesday, with the chief secretary expected to issue the notification after 4 pm. Goyal will be transferred to a position of his choice. On September 9, Banerjee mentioned that Goyal had expressed a desire to resign.
Sanjay Roy was arrested on August 10 for the rape and murder, while police have been accused of tampering with evidence and protecting the perpetrators.
Banerjee urged the junior doctors to end the strike and sit-in, promising that no action would be taken against them. She noted that patient deaths and inadequate treatment have resulted from the strike.
A committee has been established to address hospital safety and infrastructure improvements. The doctors have hailed Banerjee’s assurances as a victory.