Kolkata, The agitated young doctors announced that they would "partially" withdraw their 'cessation of work' and rejoin essential and emergency services in state-run hospitals from Saturday, as the West Bengal government has accepted most of their demands.
The doctors, who have been on 'work stoppage' for the last 41 days following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, announced that they would lift their sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday. .
Before lifting the sit-in, they would march from Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department, to the CBI office at the CGO complex in Salt Lake area. "It has been decided that given the flood situation in West Bengal and that the state government has accepted certain demands of ours, from Saturday we will partially join emergency and essential services and partially withdraw our work stoppage," an agitated doctor said on Tuesday. Thursday after its general meeting.
The protesting doctors said they would not work in the Out Patient Department (OPD) but would partially work in essential and emergency services.
"We will withdraw our sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday after the march to the CBI office. We will wait a week for the West Bengal government to implement all its promises and if it fails to fulfill them, we will resume 'stop work'" . the doctors said, adding that their fight for justice is not over. This decision came after the state government issued several directives on safety in hospitals and medical colleges.
"We will remove our sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday after the march to the CBI office," the doctors said.
The protesting doctors added that they would continue their "cessation of work" in the Outpatient Department (OPD), but would partially resume essential and emergency services in all departments. On the 41st day of the protest, the young doctors said: "We have achieved a lot during our agitation, but there are still many things to achieve."
The doctors stressed that although they managed to get the Kolkata Police Commissioner, along with the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS), to resign, "this does not mean that the agitation is over." .
Responding to earlier demands from doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee transferred Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma in his place, while also removing two senior officials from the health department. “However, this does not mean that our agitation is over. We are committed to moving in a new direction if our demands and assurances are not met within a given time frame,” said agitating doctor Debashis Haldar.
After a meeting with the chief secretary on Wednesday, the doctors received a directive from state secretary Nabanna assuring them that safety measures would be put in place, Haldar said.
"However, no specific timeline was provided as to when these changes will take place. The 'threat culture' we have been fighting against has already claimed the life of Abhaya. We still demand the removal of the Chief Secretary and action to eliminate this toxic culture," said another protesting doctor during the press conference. The doctors announced that on Friday they would organize a march from Swasthya Bhawan to the CGO Complex to "conclude this phase of our protest."
"Although we will partially resume our work on Saturday, we will closely follow the administration. If we notice anything strange, we will return stronger than before," the doctors said.
"Though we will rejoin essential services from Saturday, we will not engage in OPD and OT services until concrete steps are taken to ensure the safety of our colleagues," they added. The agitated doctors also announced that they would operate 'Abhaya Clinics' in the flood-affected areas of West Bengal to help people in distress.
"There is a flood situation and it is our duty to support those who supported us. If they face a disaster, we must be there to help them. We will return to our hospitals and also conduct Abhaya Clinics in the flood-affected areas" said the agitated doctors.
The agitated young doctors submitted to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday a draft of the key points of their meeting last night with the West Bengal government and were awaiting the state's response. The West Bengal government on Thursday night issued a list of directives on safety and enabling environment for health professionals, saying those orders must be implemented immediately.
The doctors, who have been on 'work stoppage' for the last 41 days following the rape and murder of a woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, announced that they would lift their sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday. .
Before lifting the sit-in, they would march from Swasthya Bhawan, the headquarters of the state health department, to the CBI office at the CGO complex in Salt Lake area. "It has been decided that given the flood situation in West Bengal and that the state government has accepted certain demands of ours, from Saturday we will partially join emergency and essential services and partially withdraw our work stoppage," an agitated doctor said on Tuesday. Thursday after its general meeting.
The protesting doctors said they would not work in the Out Patient Department (OPD) but would partially work in essential and emergency services.
"We will withdraw our sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday after the march to the CBI office. We will wait a week for the West Bengal government to implement all its promises and if it fails to fulfill them, we will resume 'stop work'" . the doctors said, adding that their fight for justice is not over. This decision came after the state government issued several directives on safety in hospitals and medical colleges.
"We will remove our sit-in in front of Swasthya Bhawan on Friday after the march to the CBI office," the doctors said.
The protesting doctors added that they would continue their "cessation of work" in the Outpatient Department (OPD), but would partially resume essential and emergency services in all departments. On the 41st day of the protest, the young doctors said: "We have achieved a lot during our agitation, but there are still many things to achieve."
The doctors stressed that although they managed to get the Kolkata Police Commissioner, along with the Director of Medical Education (DME) and the Director of Health Services (DHS), to resign, "this does not mean that the agitation is over." .
Responding to earlier demands from doctors, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee transferred Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal and appointed Manoj Kumar Verma in his place, while also removing two senior officials from the health department. “However, this does not mean that our agitation is over. We are committed to moving in a new direction if our demands and assurances are not met within a given time frame,” said agitating doctor Debashis Haldar.
After a meeting with the chief secretary on Wednesday, the doctors received a directive from state secretary Nabanna assuring them that safety measures would be put in place, Haldar said.
"However, no specific timeline was provided as to when these changes will take place. The 'threat culture' we have been fighting against has already claimed the life of Abhaya. We still demand the removal of the Chief Secretary and action to eliminate this toxic culture," said another protesting doctor during the press conference. The doctors announced that on Friday they would organize a march from Swasthya Bhawan to the CGO Complex to "conclude this phase of our protest."
"Although we will partially resume our work on Saturday, we will closely follow the administration. If we notice anything strange, we will return stronger than before," the doctors said.
"Though we will rejoin essential services from Saturday, we will not engage in OPD and OT services until concrete steps are taken to ensure the safety of our colleagues," they added. The agitated doctors also announced that they would operate 'Abhaya Clinics' in the flood-affected areas of West Bengal to help people in distress.
"There is a flood situation and it is our duty to support those who supported us. If they face a disaster, we must be there to help them. We will return to our hospitals and also conduct Abhaya Clinics in the flood-affected areas" said the agitated doctors.
The agitated young doctors submitted to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday a draft of the key points of their meeting last night with the West Bengal government and were awaiting the state's response. The West Bengal government on Thursday night issued a list of directives on safety and enabling environment for health professionals, saying those orders must be implemented immediately.
