Kolkata: Bengal govt appealed to agitating junior doctors to return to work as their agitation over the RG Kar rape-murder entered the second week on Friday, saying patient care was getting hampered.
“Resident doctors are the backbone of our health service in medical colleges, and their absence has seriously affected patient care services in tertiary and secondary hospitals across the state. Once again, we appeal to the protesting doctors to return to work,” principal health secretary Naryan Swaroop Nigam said. “Govt upholds the dignity of our medical professionals in the highest order and we request for normalcy in patient services to be restored immediately in the interest of the large population suffering because of the protracted agitation,” he added.
After Supreme Court’s appeal on Thursday, resident doctors at institutes in other states resumed work on Friday. But agitating doctors at all state-run medical colleges in Bengal — more than 6,000 postgraduate trainees — have refused to end their cease-work.
Bengal has a pool of around 17,000 senior doctors, around 6,000 PG trainees (PGT) and 4,000 senior residents (those who have completed postgraduation and serving the bond period). Whereas treatment for general ailments is available at most hospitals, specialised care — for cancer-related, cardiological and neurological issues, for instance — is available only at teaching hospitals.
“Currently, senior doctors are providing round-the-clock service in govt hospitals. Poor patients, who depend on govt hospitals, are heavily affected,” Nigam said.
At most specialised departments in all medical colleges, PGTs outnumber senior doctors. Many senior doctors admitted that the effect of the vacuum, in the absence of these doctors, was huge. OPD footfall has dipped massively at govt hospitals.
Nigam said state govt was “fully committed” to a proper investigation into the rape-murder investigation, and that it was in the process of ensuring safer working conditions for resident doctors — such as increasing CCTV coverage, setting up restrooms and washrooms for resident doctors and illuminating all campuses. More security guards, including women guards, are also being deployed, he said.
Sources said govt had asked all principals to submit a detailed plan on security at medical colleges and hospitals. Senior police officers have also been asked to conduct security audits, including taking stock of CCTVs and illumination inside campuses and checking access control systems to wards where nurses and doctors are employed. Police have also been asked to check vulnerable points and find out how entry of outsiders could be controlled.
