In response to an appeal from the parents of a colleague who was tragically raped and killed, junior doctors in Kolkata called off a 17-day hunger strike on October 22. Following the horrific incident, which has raised concerns about the state’s handling of sexual offenses and prompted protests all throughout India, the doctors started the demonstration.
When the victim’s body was found at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, there was a great deal of public uproar and demands for justice. Although a police volunteer has subsequently been taken into custody in relation to the incident, many people think that there are still structural problems with security and safety at healthcare facilities. The junior physicians’ hunger strike was an attempt to demand justice for their deceased colleague and to draw attention to the need for better conditions at government hospitals.
The doctors met with Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, and asked for improved working conditions and increased security. They emphasized how government hospitals today frequently lack basic facilities including appropriate staff toilets, enough security guards, and surveillance tools like closed-circuit television (CCTV). These shortcomings jeopardize the standard of patient treatment in addition to having an impact on healthcare personnel.
According to reports, the chief minister granted the majority of the doctors’ requests during the meeting. But the junior physicians’ spokesperson, Dr. Debasish Halder, stressed that they will keep fighting for justice and a safe healthcare system. He emphasized how important it is to keep an eye on how the government’s promises are being fulfilled.
Some participants had suffered from severe dehydration as a result of the hunger strike, necessitating hospitalization. Given that the doctors’ protest tried to advocate for the health and safety of all patients in addition to obtaining justice for their colleague, it demonstrates their dedication and urgency to solve pressing concerns within the healthcare system.
Advocates contend that sexual violence against women is still common in India, even in spite of prior government promises for improved safety measures in the wake of the 2012 gang rape and killing of a woman in New Delhi. Although the Supreme Court has expressed interest in the issue, many junior physicians believe that more needs to be done to guarantee accountability and long-lasting change.
The circumstances in Kolkata highlight the wider difficulties that Indian healthcare professionals face and the necessity of structural change to guarantee safety and equity in medical settings.
SOURCE :
REUTERS
