RG Kar incident: Junior doctors partially resume duties after 42 days.
Despite partially resuming their duties after 42 days, junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital continue to boycott Outpatient Department (OPD) services. The ongoing protest stems from unresolved issues related to working conditions, safety, and demands for improved infrastructure. While some services have resumed, the refusal to attend OPD duties indicates that the core concerns of the doctors remain unmet. Hospital administration and government officials are in talks with the protesting doctors, hoping to reach a resolution. In the meantime, patients requiring OPD care are facing disruptions, adding pressure on the healthcare system.
Kolkata: Junior doctors across various government-run hospitals in West Bengal partially resumed their duties on Saturday morning after a 42-day hiatus. The doctors had been on a ‘cease work’ protest following the rape and murder of an on-duty woman doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.
While the doctors returned to essential and emergency services, they continued to boycott outpatient department (OPD) duties, indicating that their protest is far from over. “We have started rejoining duties today. Our colleagues have started returning to their respective departments this morning, only for essential and emergency services, but not at the OPDs. Please do not forget that this is only a partial resumption of duties,” said Aniket Mahato, one of the leading doctors involved in the protests.
The horrific incident, which took place on August 9, sent ripples through the healthcare community, leading to the doctors demanding justice for their deceased colleague and the removal of the state health secretary. Their protests centered around not only the shocking crime but also the alleged administrative negligence that they believe contributed to the crime. They have accused key officials, including the former principal of RG Kar Hospital, of being involved in the case, calling for immediate action from the state government.
The junior doctors, however, remain committed to the public’s health needs despite their protests. Aniket Mahato confirmed that many of his colleagues have already left for flood-hit districts in the state, where they plan to set up ‘Abhaya clinics,’ or medical camps, to demonstrate their dedication to public health. Our colleagues have traveled to the affected areas to offer medical aid through these clinics,” he said. This dual approach—continuing the protest while providing critical medical services—reflects their balance of advocacy and duty.
Although they have resumed partial duties, the doctors are clear in their stance: their protest will continue until their demands are met. They are calling for justice for the murdered doctor and for the removal of the state health secretary, who they claim has mishandled the case and failed to protect healthcare workers. If they fail to act within this timeframe, we will initiate another round of ‘cease work’ protests,” Mahato warned.
The 42-day protest has put significant pressure on the state’s healthcare system, particularly in government-run hospitals, where junior doctors are critical to daily operations. The absence of junior doctors in essential services has created delays and difficulties for patients, and the continuing boycott of OPD services has left many without access to routine medical care. The situation is even more challenging in flood-hit regions, where the need for medical assistance is urgent due to the ongoing natural disaster.
Despite the partial return to work, there are lingering concerns among doctors about their safety and the conditions under which they work. The murder of their colleague has heightened awareness of the vulnerabilities faced by healthcare workers, particularly women, who often work long hours in high-pressure environments. The incident has raised broader questions about hospital security, working conditions, and the support systems in place for doctors and healthcare workers across the state.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is overseeing the investigation into the murder, has already made several arrests. Among those arrested is the former principal of RG Kar Hospital, whom the CBI believes played a role in the tragic events. However, the junior doctors insist that justice must be swift and that systemic changes are needed to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The protests have also sparked a broader conversation about the state of healthcare in West Bengal. While the focus has been on the tragic murder, many junior doctors have expressed frustration with the overall conditions under which they work, citing understaffing, lack of resources, and inadequate support from the administration. These grievances, they say, have been simmering for some time and have only been exacerbated by this tragedy.
The West Bengal government, for its part, has acknowledged the gravity of the situation. However, their response has been viewed by many as slow, and the junior doctors feel that their demands have not been taken seriously enough. The government’s failure to promptly remove the officials implicated in the case has only fueled the doctors’ determination to continue their protests.
As the doctors await a response from the state administration, they are standing firm in their resolve. The partial resumption of duties is a gesture of goodwill, but the underlying tensions remain. For now, essential and emergency services will continue, but the doctors’ decision to boycott OPD services will undoubtedly strain the healthcare system further. If their demands are not met within the next seven days, the potential for another full-scale ‘cease work’ protest looms large, threatening to disrupt healthcare services across the state once again.
In the meantime, patients and their families are caught in the middle of this ongoing standoff. Many are sympathetic to the doctors’ cause, recognizing the difficult and often dangerous conditions under which they work. However, the lack of access to routine care has been a major concern, particularly for those who rely on government hospitals for affordable healthcare.
The coming days will be critical as the government, healthcare administrators, and the junior doctors attempt to negotiate a path forward. The hope is that a resolution can be reached that addresses the doctors’ demands while ensuring the safety and health of both the healthcare workers and the public they serve. For now, all eyes are on the state administration to see how they will respond to the doctors’ ultimatum.