Doctors on strike in Bengal, health services hit badly

Thousands requiring medical attention in West Bengal were left in the lurch as junior doctors of government medical colleges and hospitals throughout the State launched a “cease work” agitation, following a vicious attack on two junior doctors in Kolkata’s State-run Nil Ratan Sarkar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital on June 11.

The death of 75-year-old Mohammad Sayeed triggered off a violent reaction at NRS Hospital, with more than 150 people reportedly arriving in bikes and other vehicles and causing mayhem. Two junior doctors present at that time, Paribaha Mukhopadhyay and Yash Tekwani, were grievously injured. Mukhopadhyay suffered a skull fracture and had to undergo surgery. NRS shut down its outpatient department (OPD) and non-emergency services on June 11 itself and soon the agitation spread to other medical colleges in the State.

This unprecedented widespread protest is being seen as the culmination of repeated attacks on doctors in the State. The protesting doctors have demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announce the measures that her government will be taking to ensure the safety of doctors on duty, and also visit the two junior doctors who were attacked. As of June 12, five people have been arrested in connection with the violence at NRS.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tried to give the incident a communal twist. Senior party leader Mukul Roy alleged that members of a “particular community” led by the ruling Trinamool Congress had precipitated the violence. The comment was strongly criticised by all sections of society, including the medical community.

However, with the strike continuing on June 12, the situation of those requiring medical help worsened, and there have also been reports of clashes breaking out between family members of patients and protesting doctors in different parts of the State. In Bardhaman, a junior doctor was badly injured on June 12, when miscreants threw stones at protesting doctors. Even after two days of strike by the doctors, the impasse showed no signs of ending as of the evening of June 12.