Junior doctors, healthcare workers, civic organisations and common people will be marching in a rally on Friday in Kolkata to demand accountability and reforms in Bengal’s healthcare system.
The rally will begin at 3pm in front of the West Bengal Medical Council in Kolkata, from where participants will meet and march to Swasthya Bhavan in Salt Lake aka Bidhannagar. It is being organised by the West Bengal Junior Doctors Federation (WBJDF).
The Telegraph Online had earlier reported how the junior doctors are planning to restart their agitation demanding justice in the rape and murder of the postgraduate trainee at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9 and what the junior doctors call pervasive corruption and threat culture in medical education in the state.
The junior doctors believe that despite months having passed since the RG Kar incident, significant questions remain unanswered.
The Telegraph Online sources
The case exposed deep-rooted corruption and malpractice within the system. Although arrests were made, including former college principal Sandeep Ghosh and a police civic volunteer, the doctors feel the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe has stalled.
The recent reinstatement of Abhik Dey and Virupaksha Biswas to positions in the Medical Council is another rallying cry for the protest.
The protesting doctors are demanding an explanation from the health minister – who happens to be chief minister Mamata Banerjee – and the Medical Council regarding these decisions.
PTI
“The objective of today’s rally is crisp and clear,” said Dr Sk Mehebub Hossain, junior resident doctor, Calcutta Medical College & Hospital.
“We are very much disheartened to see the people accused in promoting the threat culture in corruption are attending the West Bengal Medical Council meetings again. Even though the committee made by Swasthya Bhawan found them guilty of so many charges. In such a scenario we won't be surprised even if we see Mr Sandip Ghosh coming back to RG Kar again.
“The role of the CBI and the central government is also very much questionable,” he added. “So, we are inviting people from different fields to join our rally to make it clear that our movement is not finished. Rather it's just another step for further escalation.”
