Junior doctors seek to meet West Bengal govt again; cite demands for health secy’s resignation, hospital security, forming joint task force

After Tuesday’s meeting, the West Bengal government removed and transferred Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division) Abhishek Gupta, Director of Medical Education Dr. Kaustav Nayak, and Director of Health Services Debashish Halder.

In a press conference last night, the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front announced that they will continue their cease work until “all demands are met”, calling the state government’s transfers a “partial victory”.

Their letter to the CS read, “In reference to our last meeting with our Hon’ble CM, we would like to reiterate there were certain key points regarding our five-point demands which were left unresolved. Particularly our fourth and fifth point, concerning the development of the healthcare system, safety, security, and prevailing threat culture. We were assured in the meeting (that) a special task force presided by you will be formed to address these issues and further discussions with us would take place regarding its formulation and function. We would like to sit in a meeting with you and other members of the task force today regarding the same. We are eagerly waiting for your positive response.”

The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front reportedly decided to continue their cease work after a general body meeting with all of West Bengal’s medical colleges.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had on Monday claimed that her government has accepted “99%” of the junior doctors’ demands because they are “younger” in age, to which junior doctors said in their press conference, ” She agreed because of our widespread protest — not because we are young.”

The CM had also urged them to resume their duties citing a strain on the state’s medical infrastructure.

“In addition to the removal of former Kolkata top cop Vineet Goyal, we had demanded the removal of state health secretary NS Nigam. We were assured that all our demands will be accepted,” said a junior doctor.