Critical patients continue to suffer across government-run medical colleges with junior doctors continuing with their cease-work.

The junior doctors have been staying away from duty since the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital was found raped and murdered on August 9.

The secretary in the state health department, Narayan Swaroop Nigam, said on Friday that in the government healthcare sector, only the medical colleges offer specialised treatments such as cancer care and treatment for cardiological and neurological conditions.

The cease-work by junior doctors has affected these services.

On Saturday, patients and their family members at two government medical colleges in the city echoed what the health secretary had said.

At SSKM Hospital, Dindar Sheikh, 60, said surgery to remove two tumours from his shoulders was cancelled owing to the cease-work.

“I was supposed to undergo surgery on August 19. When I called a senior doctor, he was not sure when the procedure could be performed in the absence of junior doctors. The operation is yet to take place,” Sheikh said on Saturday, standing on a pavement outside the hospital.

Sheikh came to the hospital on Friday and has since been seeking another date. “The doctors are unable to give a fresh date. They have asked me to come back on Monday,” he said.

Rajak Sardar, 37, who suffered a cerebral stroke, was admitted to NRS Medical College and Hospital on August 15. Rajak is partially paralysed but doctors have asked the family to take him home.

“My brother is still very unwell. He can’t move the left side of his body. Since his admission, he has been on a drip,” said Raju Sardar, Rajak’s younger brother.

“The doctors asked us to consult the neurosurgery department. There we were told that doctors were not available. Now I am being told to take my brother home.”

Suresh Halder, 65, was admitted to NRS four days ago with complaints of fluid accumulation in his abdomen. His son Jacob told Metro that he has not been prescribed any medicines yet.

“The investigations are still not done though he has been in the hospital for four days. We do not know when the procedure to remove the fluid will start. My father’s condition is deteriorating. I am feeling helpless,” Jacob said.

Health department officials said Bengal has between 8,000 and 10,000 resident or junior doctors.

Among the junior doctors are postgraduate students and those who have got
their MBBS degrees but are yet to enrol in a postgraduate course.

Senior residents, who have got their postgraduate degrees but are not faculty members, are also on strike at some medical colleges, health department officials said.

Faculty members at medical colleges said junior doctors perform crucial roles such as preparing a patient for surgery, assisting senior surgeons in operating theatres and monitoring patients from the evening till the next morning.

A surgical oncologist said he is not confident enough to perform surgeries that need round-the-clock post-surgical care and that would not be possible in the absence of junior doctors.