Junior doctors in West Bengal have resumed their total "cease work" protest demanding safety and security for the medics in the aftermath of the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protesting doctors are also scheduled to take out a rally in Kolkata later in the day.
The junior doctors began ‘cease work’ from August 9 after body of the trainee doctor was found inside the RG Kar Medical College and Hosptial. On September 21, the medics joined their work after a hiatus of 42 days following several rounds of talks with the state government.
The junior doctors had demanded the removal of certain key officials in the police and health departments and strengthening security measures in medical establishments.
On Saturday, the doctors said they would resume the protest in medical colleges across the state.
"We are compelled to return to a full ceasework starting from today. Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full strike," said West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front in a press release.
The decision to resume total 'cease work' was taken by the doctors after three doctors and three nurses were assaulted following the death of a patient at the College of Medicine and Sagore Dutta Hospital near Kolkata on Friday night.
On Monday, the Calcutta High Court allowed the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD) to hold a rally in Kolkata on Tuesday to protest the rape-murder of a trainee medic at RG Kar hospital.
(With input from agencies)