Junior Doctors in West Bengal Resume Strike Over Unmet Demands

Junior doctors in West Bengal have resumed their indefinite strike, citing the state government's failure to meet significant demands, including enhanced hospital security. Despite the Supreme Court's emphasis on essential medical duties, the strike severely impacts healthcare services. Protests have intensified ahead of Durga Puja, highlighting unresolved issues of safety and justice for a murdered doctor.

Junior doctors in West Bengal resumed an indefinite strike on Tuesday, escalating protests over the state government's failure to address key demands, including enhanced hospital security. This move comes a day after the Supreme Court stressed the need for medics to perform essential duties.

The junior doctors had partially resumed duties on September 21 following a 42-day protest over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College. However, after an all-night governing body meeting, they have resumed their strike just ahead of Durga Puja, crippling medical services across the state.

Despite the state's acknowledgment of two demands—establishing a State-Level Redressal Committee and reconstituting Patient Welfare Committees—junior doctors find these measures insufficient. Healthcare services in state-run hospitals and medical colleges have been severely impacted, with senior doctors redeployed to cover various departments. Protests continue to demand justice for the murdered doctor and improved safety measures for medical staff, pressing the state government for concrete actions.

(With inputs from agencies.)