West Bengal Forms Committee to Address Healthcare Professionals' Grievances

The West Bengal government established a state-level grievance redressal committee led by surgeon Sourav Dutta to address healthcare professionals' issues. This followed the resumption of an indefinite 'cease work' by junior doctors at state medical colleges. The committee aims to handle complaints from all stakeholders, including patients.

The West Bengal government on Tuesday evening formed a state-level grievance redressal committee to address issues concerning healthcare professionals, according to an official statement.

This announcement came just hours after junior doctors resumed an indefinite 'cease work' at all state-run medical colleges and hospitals across West Bengal.

Renowned surgeon Sourav Dutta is appointed as the chairperson of the newly formed seven-member committee, the statement added.

The agitating junior doctors have been pressing for the establishment of a grievance redressal system to handle complaints from all stakeholders, including patients and their families.

The committee will receive all necessary secretarial assistance from the state health department. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government, which had previously disbanded all 'Rogi Kalyan Samities' (patient welfare committees), has reconstituted them with the principals of medical colleges and hospitals as chairpersons, an official noted.

Earlier in the day, junior doctors restarted their 'cease work,' intensifying protests over what they see as the state government's 'failure' to address key demands such as enhanced hospital security. This escalation comes a day after the Supreme Court stressed the importance of healthcare workers performing their essential duties.

The medical professionals had resumed partial duties on September 21 following a 42-day protest sparked by the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

(With inputs from agencies.)