Kolkata, The second round of talks between agitated young doctors and West Bengal government officials to resolve the deadlock over the RG Kar issue ended on a "positive note" on Wednesday evening after the latter agreed to implement seven of the eight demands raised. presented by protesters over issues regarding the safety of doctors in state hospitals, officials said.
However, the state government refused to accept the demand of initiating departmental proceedings against Health Secretary NS Nigam, insisted upon by agitated doctors in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, they said.
Subsequently, allegations of widespread corruption in government health centers and practices of pressuring students and doctors in training compromising their safety on campuses by a section of power broker staff in state hospitals have also come to light, intensifying the clamor for action against the health secretary.
It was not immediately clear whether, based on the outcome of the meeting, the agitated young doctors would end their current "cessation of work" and resume their duties.
The meeting between chief secretary Manoj Pant and a delegation of 30 junior doctors began at the state secretariat, Nabanna, around 7.30 pm, an hour after the state's scheduled time, and lasted for more than two hours, officials said. sources.
It took another three and a half hours for both parties to finalize the minutes of the meeting which were signed by both parties.
The protesting doctors were again accompanied by stenographers to take the minutes of the meeting. On Monday, during the meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence, the agitators were also accompanied by stenographers.
"We want the issue of hospital safety to be addressed. The Prime Minister had announced the formation of a task force, but there is not enough clarity on this. We want the federal government to accept our legitimate demands," said an agitator. The doctor said before leaving for the meeting place.
The West Bengal government on Wednesday invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar rape and murder incident to a meeting at the state secretariat at 6.30 pm, responding to their demand for a fresh round of talks.
This was the second round of talks between the doctors and the state government within 48 hours.
However, the state government refused to accept the demand of initiating departmental proceedings against Health Secretary NS Nigam, insisted upon by agitated doctors in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a postgraduate student at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, they said.
Subsequently, allegations of widespread corruption in government health centers and practices of pressuring students and doctors in training compromising their safety on campuses by a section of power broker staff in state hospitals have also come to light, intensifying the clamor for action against the health secretary.
It was not immediately clear whether, based on the outcome of the meeting, the agitated young doctors would end their current "cessation of work" and resume their duties.
The meeting between chief secretary Manoj Pant and a delegation of 30 junior doctors began at the state secretariat, Nabanna, around 7.30 pm, an hour after the state's scheduled time, and lasted for more than two hours, officials said. sources.
It took another three and a half hours for both parties to finalize the minutes of the meeting which were signed by both parties.
The protesting doctors were again accompanied by stenographers to take the minutes of the meeting. On Monday, during the meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee at her Kalighat residence, the agitators were also accompanied by stenographers.
"We want the issue of hospital safety to be addressed. The Prime Minister had announced the formation of a task force, but there is not enough clarity on this. We want the federal government to accept our legitimate demands," said an agitator. The doctor said before leaving for the meeting place.
The West Bengal government on Wednesday invited the junior doctors agitating over the RG Kar rape and murder incident to a meeting at the state secretariat at 6.30 pm, responding to their demand for a fresh round of talks.
This was the second round of talks between the doctors and the state government within 48 hours.
