The tragic rape and murder of a trainee woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have sparked a flood of complaints from students at various government medical colleges across West Bengal.
According to reports, serious allegations have been made, including political ties to the ruling Trinamool Congress, widespread intimidation, and manipulation of the examination system through bribery and favoritism.
Over the past few weeks, students from at least seven prominent medical institutions in the state have raised concerns. Many students claim they have been threatened with failure if they do not comply with certain demands, and some have reported being denied registration with the West Bengal Medical Council unless they pay bribes, as detailed in a report by The Indian Express.
Among the accusations are unfair grading during house staff selections and coercion into participating in hospital events. These complaints highlight a troubling culture of corruption within the state’s medical education system, leading students to demand immediate reforms.
So far, the administration has not publicly addressed these serious claims, leaving students worried about the impact on their education and future careers.
The scandal gained more attention following the arrest of Sandip Ghosh, the former principal of RG Kar Medical College, in early September. This arrest has encouraged students to report various irregularities across medical institutions. As a result, both the state government and individual colleges have launched investigation panels to examine these issues.
At North Bengal Medical College, five student doctors were suspended for six months on September 12, barring them from campus and hostel access. This decision followed protests by junior doctors, who had gheraoed the college on September 2.
A probe panel investigating similar complaints at RG Kar Medical College submitted its findings on October 1. Sources quoted by The Indian Express revealed that 40 out of the 51 doctors who received notices on September 10 were found guilty of “intimidation.”
At the College of Medicine and JNM Hospital in Kalyani, 40 student doctors were also suspended for six months, though they are allowed on campus for exams only.