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50 Senior Doctors of RG Kar MCH Resign in Support of Junior Doctors on Hunger Strike
In a show of solidarity, 50 senior doctors of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital submitted a mass resignation, supporting the junior doctors on a hunger strike. The junior doctors who initially ceased work in protest, have now launched a hunger strike demanding urgent reforms in the public healthcare system following the brutal incident of rape and murder which occurred on the premises of RG Kar MCH on August 9.
"The health of the protesting doctors who are currently sitting in hunger strike is deteriorating tremendously fast. We request the government to come into reconciliation with the protesting doctors and the ones who are sitting in indefinite hunger strike immediately," wrote the senior doctors of RG Kar MCH in a letter addressed to the Director of Medical Education, West Bengal.
They urged the Bengal government to engage in dialogue with the protesting doctors. "We senior doctors of R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital are giving mass resignation as the government seems to be oblivious of the deteriorating condition of the doctors on hunger strike and if situation demands we will also go for individual resignation," added the senior doctors.
The protesting junior doctors of the West Bengal Junior Doctor's Front started a hunger strike to advocate for justice for the fallen doctor, addressing issues related to an alleged corruption-threat syndicate. Their demands include campus democracy, a patient-friendly healthcare system, and various infrastructural improvements, such as a centralized referral system for hospitals, a bed vacancy monitoring system, and task forces to ensure essential facilities like CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms.
In addition, they are calling for enhanced police protection in hospitals, the recruitment of permanent female police personnel, and the rapid filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff. Earlier today, around 15 senior doctors joined their juniors in a symbolic hunger strike to demonstrate their support.
