Kolkata: Following productive discussions between junior doctors and the West Bengal government, significant progress has been made regarding the demands for justice in the recent rape and murder case of a trainee doctor. The state government responded promptly with directives aimed at enhancing the safety and operational efficiency of healthcare professionals across West Bengal.
On Thursday, the West Bengal government issued a two-page directive outlining immediate safety measures for healthcare workers. Chief Secretary Manoj Pant instructed Principal Secretary (Health) N S Nigam to ensure the implementation of ten key measures, including the provision of adequate on-duty rooms, washrooms, CCTV surveillance, and drinking water facilities in medical establishments.
This directive follows a meeting held on Wednesday evening at the state secretariat, Nabanna, where the public health service task force met with a delegation of 30 junior doctors. The meeting, which began an hour late and lasted over five and a half hours, focused on the pressing issues of security within government-run hospitals, recruitment of healthcare staff, and the need for transparency in patient referral systems and bed allocation.
Junior doctors raised concerns about the “culture of bullying” prevalent in hospital environments and insisted that measures must be put in place to prevent tragedies like the one that occurred at RG Kar Hospital. Although the government acknowledged that many of their demands were valid and should be enacted without delay, there was disappointment when Chief Secretary Pant did not provide specific details regarding the agreed actions by the end of the meeting.
In a further commitment to healthcare safety, the government has appointed former DGP Surajit Kar Purakayastha to conduct a security audit of all medical colleges and hospitals in the state. The urgency of these measures reflects a growing recognition of the need to protect healthcare workers and ensure a secure working environment.
As the situation develops, both junior doctors and the government are expected to continue working towards a resolution that safeguards the rights and safety of all medical professionals in West Bengal.