Junior physicians in West Bengal carried on their walkout on August 13 in opposition to the rape and killing of a female physician at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The prolonged labor stoppage has caused significant disruptions to healthcare services, resulting in lengthy lines at government hospital outpatient departments (OPDs) across the state. Although young doctors’ absence has resulted in major delays and complications, senior doctors have been stepping in to manage the patient inflow.
The woman’s body was found in a hospital seminar hall on August 9, which sparked the protest. On August 10, a community volunteer was taken into custody in relation to the offense. The junior physicians have given the Kolkata Police until August 14 to wrap up their investigation and are demanding a judicial investigation into the incident. Some have called for a speedier settlement, expressing discontent with the government’s timeframe.
After meeting with the victim’s relatives on August 12, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave Kolkata Police until August 18 to conclude the investigation. She has stated that the subject will be turned over to the Central Bureau of probe (CBI) if the probe is not finished by then. The seriousness of the problem and the pressure on local authorities to take immediate action are highlighted by Banerjee’s intervention.
The impact of the junior physicians’ strike on patient care has been significant. Due to the large number of cases and appointment rescheduling, many patients have experienced difficulty. For example, Saiful Alam from the Murshidabad area was told that his admittance had been postponed when he arrived in Kolkata for a scheduled surgery. Due to a lack of medical personnel, this situation was replicated in multiple hospitals, where patients were sent home and their appointments were rescheduled.
All senior physicians, who are responsible for managing the patient load and maintaining emergency services, have had their leaves canceled by the state administration in response to the interruption. Despite these efforts, patients and healthcare practitioners are facing a difficult scenario due to the backlog of patients and scheduling conflicts.
The ongoing demonstration emphasizes how urgently the issue has to be resolved and how medical professionals’ safety protocols need to be strengthened. Restoring normalcy in healthcare services and guaranteeing that patients receive the care they require remain the top priorities, even as the administration and police attempt to meet the demands of the striking physicians.
SOURCE :
THE PRINT
