AMN / KOLKATA
The agitating junior doctors in West Bengal, have called off their week long strike following meeting with the State Government. The representatives of junior doctors of all medical colleges and hospitals of the state met Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at the State Secretariat this afternoon and discussed their problems. Later the Chief Minister termed the it as fruitful after the meeting.
The meeting and discussions with the chief minister met a logical end and hence, we end the cease work. We give the CM time to carry out the decisions that were taken at the meeting. We want to resume work as soon as possible, but there are some technical aspects. This is a movement of the entire medical fraternity, seniors and juniors,” said a spokesperson of the striking doctors.
The chief minister welcomed their decision and promised to look into all their demands that were discussed at the meeting.
“We appeal to the people to hear what the CM said. We are also humans. The CM spoke about a grievance cell and zero tolerance towards attack on doctors. She said that within three days our demands will be addressed in written. We have faith in our chief minister. Since the CM is taking some time, we appeal to senior doctors to reconsider (their resignations),” the spokesperson said.
“We spoke about infrastructure in rural hospitals. We want to thank the chief minister for giving us some time. We also thank the common people… We also seek forgiveness from them who have suffered the most. The movement was for the people. You (public) will understand once you see the details of the meeting,” he added.
The doctors have been protesting against an attack on two junior colleagues at the hospital by family members of a patient over allegations of negligence a week ago.
One of them, Pariboho Mukherjee, suffered critical injuries in the head and is undergoing treatment at the Institute of Neurosciences, Kolkata. His condition is stated to be stable. The chief minister met him at the hospital later in the evening.
The junior doctors also thanked the chief minister for visiting Mukherjee at the hospital. “We are happy for that. She had promised us and went to see Pariboho at the hospital,” the spokesperson said.
Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi welcomed the doctors’ decision and end of a stalemate that had gripped the state and had spilled over to other states. He appreciated the initiative taken by the chief minister and the junior doctors to resolve the impasse.
Earlier in the day, the chief minister met representatives of the striking doctors and agreed to meet two representatives from each medical college at Nabanna. West Bengal health secretary, MoS Chandrima Bhattacharya and other state officials were present in the meeting, besides 31 junior doctors.
“Here, we are present to look into your demands. I would like to clarify that discussions and resolutions taken in this meeting shall be recorded and adequate measures will be taken,” she said, while promising to visit NRS Medical College and Hospital once they will formally announce to call off their strike.