West Bengal Doctors Brace for Crisis as Threats Escalate, Strike Looms

In West Bengal, junior doctors are once again preparing to strike after ongoing concerns over their safety. This potential strike comes in the wake of a violent assault on medical staff at the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital near Kolkata on September 27, 2024, where three doctors and three nurses were attacked following the death of a patient. This incident has reignited fears about the safety of healthcare professionals in the state, adding to the frustrations that have been brewing since the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College in August.

The junior doctors had initially called off their 42-day strike on September 21, 2024, after meetings with senior government officials, including the Chief Minister and Chief Secretary of West Bengal. However, with the recent assault, they feel that the promises made by the state government to improve security at hospitals were not taken seriously. The doctors are now waiting for the Supreme Court’s hearing on September 30 regarding the RG Kar case, which could determine their next steps.

During the September 30 hearing, the doctors are expecting the state to provide a comprehensive submission about how they will ensure the safety of medical professionals going forward. If the submission fails to meet their expectations, the doctors are poised to resume their ‘cease work’ protest from 5 p.m. on that day, potentially disrupting healthcare services across the state once more. Junior doctors are not just demanding accountability for the attack at Sagore Dutta Hospital, but they also want the government to prevent future incidents through stricter security measures.

This looming strike underscores the broader issue of workplace violence faced by medical staff in India. In West Bengal alone, multiple incidents of assault have occurred in recent years, with healthcare workers often being at the receiving end of public anger following patient deaths. Despite various government assurances, the medical community remains skeptical of the state’s commitment to ensuring their safety, especially after this latest incident where the relatives of a patient allegedly threatened a female doctor with a similar fate to that of the victim in the RG Kar case.

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If the strike does happen, it will mark another significant period of disruption in the state’s healthcare system, which has already suffered from prolonged protests this year. Doctors across West Bengal are planning to rally in protest before the Supreme Court hearing, hoping to draw further attention to their cause and pressure the government to act swiftly.

The outcome of the Supreme Court hearing will be critical in shaping the next phase of this ongoing battle between the medical community and the state. As tensions rise, the possibility of further escalation looms, with junior doctors demanding not just safety, but respect and acknowledgment of their sacrifices in serving the public under increasingly dangerous conditions.