Fast-unto-death: Fourth doctor hospitalised; Bengal govt seeks to meet protestors

As the “fast-unto-death” of junior doctors of West Bengal to press for their demands following the RG Kar hospital rape-murder incident entered the ninth day on Sunday (October 13), another of them was rushed to hospital in the night after his health deteriorated.

Pulastha Acharya of NRS Medical College and Hospital was hospitalised after he complained of severe stomach pain, an official at the medical establishment said. With Acharya, the total number of junior doctors who have been hospitalised in the course of their fasting protest reached four.

Aniket Mahato of RG Kar Medical and Hospital, Anustup Majumdar of Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, and Alok Verma of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital were needed medical care earlier after a deterioration in their health.

“Pulastha is in the CCU and his parameters have deteriorated. We have formed a medical board to treat him,” a senior doctor of the NRS Medical College and Hospital told PTI.

Chief secretary’s letter

Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has written to the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD), requesting it to call off its proposed demonstration on October 15, stating that the stir was coinciding with the state government’s annual “Pujo Carnival”. He also invited representatives of the body for a meeting at the state health department headquarters Swasthya Bhawan on Monday to discuss their demands.

In an email, Pant also urged the JPD to “advise” the junior doctors to end their hunger strike in the interest of their health and well-being.

Also read: Doctors’ body calls for nationwide shutdown of elective services from Monday

Pujo Carnival concern

“I write to address your organisation’s call for the event scheduled on October 15 at 4 pm on Rani Rashmoni Road, Kolkata in connection with various demands of junior doctors and their ongoing hunger strike. This proposed demonstration coincides with the previously announced Pujo Carnival organised by the state government,” he said.

“The carnival is a prominent event attended by thousands, along with international dignitaries who come to witness this UNESCO-recognised Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Any demonstration which may coincide with this event, or misuse of the demonstration by certain elements to cause disruption during this event could pose significant safety and security concerns for the visitors,” Pant said.

“Additionally, I appeal to you to advise junior doctors to end their hunger strike in the interest of their health and well-being,” Pant said.

Call for meeting

In another email, Pant invited the JPD for a meeting at the Swasthya Bhavan on Monday afternoon, an official said. Two members of the body would be allowed in the meeting, Pant mentioned in his mail.

One senior member of the association told PTI that they were yet undecided about attending the meeting on Monday.

Also read: RG Kar case: 77 doctors at Kalyani JNM Hospital threaten mass resignation

FAIMA’s shutdown call

On the other hand, the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), a body representing Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs) across India, has called for a nationwide shutdown of elective services in hospitals from Monday in solidarity with medics' ongoing protest in West Bengal, an official of the body said.

“After exhaustive discussions, we have unanimously decided that it is time to unite on a national scale. We had given an ultimatum for escalation to the Chief Minister of West Bengal in a previous letter, however no satisfactory action has been seen, compelling us to request all RDAs and medical associations across the country to join us in our call for a shutdown of elective services across the country, commencing Monday,” the body said in a communication on Sunday.

Civil society’s open letter

In another development, several eminent personalities have urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to take every possible step to acknowledge the demands of junior doctors with due importance to end the impasse.

The fasting junior doctors were also requested by eminent personalities to have faith in the initiative of civil society and withdraw their fast-unto-death.

Thirty eminent personalities, including filmmaker Aparna Sen, actor Riddhi Sen, theatre personality-actor Kaushik Sen, filmmaker Srijit Mukherjee, Kamaleswar Mukherjee, social activist Bolan Gangopadhyay and others, in an open letter to the CM also urged the junior doctors to withdraw their fast-unto-death.

“Despite acknowledging most of the genuine demands by junior doctors, the uncertainty over the effective implementation of their demands forced them to go for the hunger strike and deteriorated their health conditions,” the signatories said.

“In the prevailing situation, we promise to be more vigilant to facilitate a situation where your concerns will be addressed and call upon the state government to acknowledge their concern and urge the agitating medics to have faith in civil society initiative to address the situation,” the letter said.

Also read: RG Kar case | 50 senior doctors resign in solidarity with medics on fast

Symbolic fast

Meanwhile, several people observed a “symbolic fast” on Sunday in Malda and Murshidabad districts to express solidarity with the agitating doctors. A group of former students of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital also went to the medical establishment to stage a symbolic fast of 12 hours but faced resistance from CISF personnel deployed there.

The junior doctors have been demanding justice for the RG Kar hospital victim, immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam, workplace security, and other measures.

Their other demands include the establishment of a centralised referral system for hospitals and medical colleges, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions such as CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at workplace.

They are also demanding increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and swift filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.

The fast from October 5 followed nearly 50 days of “cease work” in two phases. Their agitation began after an on-duty postgraduate trainee was allegedly raped and murdered inside state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

While one person was arrested by the Kolkata Police the next day, the CBI is now investigating the case on a Calcutta High Court order.

(With agency inputs)