Junior doctors in Kolkata, who have been on strike for 41 days to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, will resume essential services in hospitals starting September 21. They announced the decision to end the strike following a meeting with West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant.
As part of their ongoing advocacy, the doctors will hold a rally today at 3 PM, marching from Swasthya Bhawan to the CBI office. They are urging the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to expedite its inquiry into the tragic case.
A representative of the protesting doctors stated, "We are calling off the protest and will hold a rally to emphasize the urgency of the CBI's investigation. We will return to work on Saturday, especially in light of the recent flooding, as we need to assist the community. However, we will maintain dharna stages at our medical colleges to continue voicing our concerns."
This development follows a series of discussions between the state public healthcare task force and a delegation of junior doctors. The government has agreed to a key demand: the enhancement of infrastructure in state-run hospitals.
West Bengal has faced significant unrest in response to the recent incident and allegations of corruption within the government healthcare system.