The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Forum (WBJDF) has renewed its call for the fulfillment of key demands linked to the ongoing protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital, sending a fresh appeal to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday, reiterating concerns that remain unaddressed.
In the latest communication, WBJDF emphasized seven crucial demands, initially presented on 19 September, but have yet to see action from the state government.
The group claims that the authorities’ lack of response is stalling necessary reforms in the state’s medical institutions.
The doctors’ forum criticized the state government for failing to establish a Central Enquiry Committee to investigate and discipline individuals responsible for fostering what the WBJDF describes as a threat culture in medical colleges across West Bengal.
Another unaddressed issue, according to the forum, is the absence of directives instructing individual colleges to form their enquiry committees.
These committees, which would include undergraduate students and resident doctors, are meant to investigate misconduct and ensure accountability within the institutions.
Demand For Resident Doctors’ Associations & Student Union Elections
The WBJDF also highlighted the lack of action on holding college council meetings.
These meetings are essential for conducting elections to form resident doctors’ associations and student unions, which the forum insists must take place within the next two months to ensure proper representation of healthcare workers and students.
Further, the forum is pushing for an inquiry into allegations against the West Bengal Medical Council and the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board, accusing certain members of promoting a threatening environment and operating health syndicates that compromise the safety and welfare of the medical community.
The demand for establishing college-level task forces, which would include junior and senior doctors, students, and nursing staff, in line with a Supreme Court directive from September 9, remains unmet.
These task forces would ensure proper monitoring and support within medical institutions.
Additionally, the WBJDF is calling for the creation of decision-making bodies in each institution, such as anti-ragging squads, internal complaints committees, and patient welfare committees, among others.
The forum also emphasized the need for adequate funding to support these initiatives.
Finally, the junior doctors are demanding the implementation of a transparent transfer policy for medical personnel, as outlined in the West Bengal Service Rules, to ensure fairness in the allocation of roles within the healthcare sector.
As protests continue, the WBJDF’s fresh appeal to the state government underscores growing frustration among junior doctors, who are pushing for immediate action on these critical issues.
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