Doctors Strike

WB junior doctors demand action, Mamata calls for end to hunger strike

Mamata Banerjee urged protesting doctors to rise above politics and return to work, stating that people are dependent on them and need their services

RG Kar case: IMA chief says doctors have always been soft targets

With the young medics' indefinite hunger strike in West Bengal entering the ninth day on Tuesday, Indian Medical Association chief Dr R V Asokan said doctors have always been "soft targets" and that "injustice inflicted on the medical fraternity has no parallel". Doctors in West Bengal began their hunger strike on October 5, following nearly 50 days of 'cease work' in two phases, over the rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9. In a statement, posted on X by the IMA, Dr Asokan said on Tuesday that from the word go a doctor in India is a "slave chained by the Bond system". In the post titled "Meek shall inherit the Earth", Dr Asokan said the rape and murder of the resident doctor at Kolkata's R G Kar Hospital and Medical College has brought out the "rot that has set in the country's medical colleges". "We are witness to how the sacrifice of the young resident suffocated and raped to a brutal death is haunting the empire

Faima pauses strike as Bengal govt holds emergency meet with doctors

Doctor's body asks resident doctors associations to be ready to stop elective services in case meeting does not address demands

Kolkata rape-murder case: Junior doctors' hunger strike intensifies

Doctors issue 24-hour ultimatum over medic's murder, threaten hunger strike

Junior doctors protesting the recent rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital on Friday issued the state government a 24-hour ultimatum to meet their demands, warning that they will begin an indefinite hunger strike if unmet.The protest took place at Esplanade, where a junior doctor, Parichay Panda, said, "Our demand is simple. We've given the government time to improve the safety and security of hospitals. However, the government has failed to do so. They even admitted before the Supreme Court that only a few measures have been implemented."Panda further noted that the government is unwilling to engage in discussions."If our demands are not fulfilled within 24 hours, we will begin an indefinite hunger strike tomorrow. Some of us will remain here, while others will continue serving the people of West Bengal," he added.On Wednesday, undergraduate and postgraduate students, junior doctors, and interns from North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri .

Junior docs call off 'total cease work', threaten to launch hunger strike

Agitating junior doctors demanding justice for the RG Kar medic on Friday evening called off their 'total cease work' at state-run medical colleges and hospitals but threatened to launch a hunger strike till death if their demands were not met by the West Bengal government within 24 hours. "We are calling off our 'total cease work'. But we will continue our sit-in protest. We will give the state administration 24 hours to fulfill our demands or else we will start a hunger strike till death," an agitating doctor, Debasish Halder of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, said. Holding clocks in their hands, the doctors reiterated their demands including the directive to form a central enquiry committee for disciplinary proceedings against alleged perpetrators involved in "threat culture" in all medical colleges of West Bengal, among others.

Stage set for 2nd round of talks between Bengal govt, agitating junior docs

The West Bengal government on Wednesday invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar incident for a meeting at the state secretariat at 6.30 pm, responding to their request for a fresh round of talks. In his response, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant reiterated the state's appeal to the protesting medics to join work in the wake of the emerging flood-like situation in parts of the state. The scheduled meeting would be the second round of talks between the stirring medics and the state government in 48 hours, the first of which was held in the presence of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday. You are aware that many districts of South Bengal are facing a flood-like situation with vast areas inundated. In the light of the above situation, while we again appeal to you to join duties in larger public interest and provide services to common people, I along with the other members of the task force will meet your delegation of 30 members at Nabanna Sabhaghar today at 6.30 pm, Pant's

Agitating doctors write to Bengal chief secy, seek meeting on issues

Agitating junior doctors on Wednesday wrote to West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, seeking a discussion on certain key unresolved issues like security in hospitals as a pre-condition for lifting their ongoing sit-in outside the state health department headquarters. The medics shot off an email at 11.19 am with respect to their general body meeting, which concluded early Wednesday morning. The protesters highlighted issues of safety and security inside state-run hospital premises, and details of formulation and functions of the promised task force headed by the chief secretary, as agenda for the proposed meeting. "In reference to our last meeting with the CM, we would like to reiterate that there were certain key points regarding our five-point demand, which were unresolved. Particularly our 4th and 5th points, concerning the development of the healthcare system, safety, security and prevailing threat culture," they stated in the email. Till information last received, the ...

Agitating junior doctors continue sit-in, seek another meeting with CM

Junior doctors agitating over RG Kar murder early Wednesday said they will continue their sit-in and not join duty, despite the state appointing Manoj Kumar Verma as the new Kolkata Police chief, replacing Vineet Goyal, and removing two senior health department officials, giving in to the medics' earlier demands. According to a statement issued following the conclusion of their general body meeting, which had started around 6.30 pm and went on till well past midnight, the protestors called the state's administrative measures "only partial victory" of their movement. The doctors demanded the removal of the state health secretary NS Nigam, saying they were assured by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee during the Monday of an action on it. The doctors said they will send an email to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant after daybreak seeking an appointment with the CM for another meeting later in the day. They also demanded discussions on safety and security of doctors inside hospital premises and

1,200 Ahmedabad civil hospital doctors go on strike over stipend hike

Around 1,200 resident doctors of Ahmedabad Civil Hospital in Gujarat went on an indefinite strike on Monday seeking a hike in stipend. Services were affected despite authorities making alternate arrangements in view of the strike, with patients and kin complaining of long wait at the Aswara-based facility, which is attached to BJ Medical College and is the largest in the state. As per resident doctors, they will stay away from all duties, including trauma care, emergency and outpatient department (OPD) services as part of the strike until an amicable solution is found. "The state health department had agreed to increasing stipend by 40 per cent every three years. This hike was supposed to come into effect from April 1. It was, however, not implemented till July after which we met state health minister Rushikesh Patel. We had postponed our stir then after getting an assurance about its implementation," said Dr Dhaval Gameti, president of the Junior Doctors' Association of BJ Medical

Watch: Elderly man faces water cannons in Kolkata protest, video goes viral

Kolkata protests: The man gained prominence after several BJP leaders shared visuals of him standing firm against the water cannons deployed by the Kolkata Police

Kolkata rape-murder case: CBI raid at ex-principal Ghosh, polygraph test and more

Security enhanced at Jammu hospitals to ensure safety of doctors, staff

Security has been beefed up at government hospitals in Jammu with the deployment of armed security personnel to ensure the safety of medical staff and doctors, officials said on Friday. This step was taken in the wake of the rape and murder of a doctor at a hospital in Kolkata and related incidents of violence at the hospital. The deployment of security forces, including CRPF, has been made at Government Medical College (GMC) hospital and Sri Maharaja Gulab Singh (SMGS) hospital, they said. "GMC hospital in Jammu is among the first in the country to have armed security in the emergency premises for the safety of medical staff," a senior official of the hospital said. The administrations have successfully implemented these security measures after thorough discussions with the police authorities. A total of 34 police personnel, including 15 women officers, equipped with arms and communication tools, will be stationed for round-the-clock security, they said. These personnel will be

India needs more than just protests to change attitudes towards rape

The brutal act that prompted the marches was the rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor on Aug. 9 at a government hospital in Kolkata

AIIMS appeals to resident doctors to resume duties amid ongoing protests

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi on Wednesday requested resident doctors of the institute to resume their duties immediately so that patient care services are normalized.The doctors are protesting to demonstrate their unwavering commitment to patient care in the light of the murder and alleged sexual assault of a female trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in the West Bengal city of Kolkata on August 9.According to a release from the Office of the Director, AIIMS, "The undersigned along with the entire AIIMS family stands behind the cause of the safety of all healthcare professionals at AIIMS New Delhi & across the Country. However, as doctors, our supreme duty is also to ensure that the patients visiting our portals do not go unattended.""The Government of India is committed to the cause of healthcare professionals' safety unequivocally and the Hon'ble Supreme Court, while assuring affirmative action for ensuring safety of healthcare ...

MUDA land scam, doctors protest, US Presidential elections

Amid outrage, Bengal's Health Dept revokes transfer order of 42 doctors

He explained that the transfer process is part of the promotional exercise within the Medical Education Service, a lengthy procedure that began two months ago

Doctors' strike halts OPDs nationwide, govt assures security panel

Non-essential services at government & private hospitals disrupted, even private labs keep shutters down

Doctor rape-murder: Delhi Police issues prohibitory orders in central Delhi

Delhi Police issued prohibitory orders in the central areas of the national capital amid protest calls by multiple organisations against the Kolkata rape-murder case on Friday, officials said. Deployment of police personnel has been increased and Section 163 (prohibitory orders) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) has been imposed near the Parliament and other parts of central Delhi, they said. A Delhi Police officer said the city remains on alert due to Independence Day celebrations. Due to the protests announced, traffic at some intersections in central Delhi have been diverted, he said. The alleged rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at the state-run R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata has triggered widespread protests in many parts of the country. Multiple resident doctors' associations (RDAs), including those from AIIMS, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, have announced a protest meet near Nirman Bhawan on Friday. The Federation of Resident Doctors ...

Medic murder: OPD services stay affected as doctors' strike enters 2nd day

OPD services in government hospitals of several states across the country remained affected on Tuesday as the resident doctors' strike over the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee in Kolkata entered its second day, even as the CBI took over the investigation in the case. The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA), which called for a nationwide indefinite strike over the incident, on Tuesday night said it was calling off its strike as Union Health Minister J P Nadda has accepted their demands. A delegation of FORDA met with Nadda at his residence in New Delhi on Tuesday night. FORDA said the decision to end the strike will be effective from Wednesday morning. "A key outcome of the meeting was the health minister's agreement to form a committee with FORDA's involvement to work on the Central Protection Act. The ministry has assured that work on this will begin within the next 15 days," the resident doctors' body said in a statement. In West Bengal, the ...