Bengal Junior Docs Threaten Return To Cease-Work After Fresh Assault

Junior doctors across Bengal have threatened to return to a complete cease-work from Monday, citing security concerns following the assault on Post-Graduate Trainees and nurses at College of Medicine & Sagore Dutta Hospital (CMSDH) on Friday evening. Three doctors and three nurses were assaulted after a patient died at the Sagore Dutta Hospital The junior doctors said they would begin the cease-work after the Supreme Court hearing on Monday on the RG Kar rape and murder, and gave the State Government a 5pm deadline to demonstrate its seriousness in turning their work places in medical colleges and hospitals safe. The decision was taken after a marathon general body meeting on Saturday by the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF).

“We will revert to complete cease-work from 5pm on Monday if the Government fails to implement the security measures that had been decided at an earlier meeting. The assault on our colleagues happened on Friday when WBJDF was at a mass convention discussing issues of security and threat culture. This incident has proved that the State Government has failed to instil confidence in us so that we can return to the wards,” said WBJDF’s Anustup Mukherjee .

The junior doctors had lifted their 42-day cease-work partially on September 21 following protracted negotiations with the Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Chief Secretary Manoj Pant. While doctors at Sagore Dutta Hospital went on a cease-work from Friday night itself, their colleagues across Bengal may tread the same path from Monday, nine days after they resumed emergency duty.

“The Supreme Court had also told the State Government to ensure confidence-building measures. But we don’t see much of it being worked upon on the ground. This incident is an example of it,” said Aniket Mahata of WBJDF.