New Delhi: Indian Medical Association President Dr RV Asokan on Friday met the junior doctors, who are observing fast-unto-death in Kolkata.
Asokan appealed to the state government address the issue in an emergency basis and said that the demands of the junior doctors were “eminently doable”.
“I bring the goodwill and concern of all the doctors of India. We are concerned, we are family. I have come with a very heavy heart for these young doctors, who are the struggling heroes of medical profession fighting for the cause of justice. All the demands are doable, eminently doable. IMA has appealed to the (state) government to address them in an emergency basis, considering the deteriorating health of these children,” Asokan said after meeting protesting junior doctors.
He also met the doctor who was admitted to the RG Kar Hospital after his condition deteriorated due to the fast and assured that the IMA supported them.
“I have been top RG Kar, that boy is yet to become stable and the entire medical fraternity is concerned, and after these many days of fasting… not once they spoke about themselves, they spoke about the system, the corruption, they spoke about the concerns of the people, the profession… The IMA is solidly behind them, we will go to ant extent, we will not let them down,” he added.
Earlier, Asokan had written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “”It has been almost a week since the young doctors of Bengal are on fast-unto-death struggle. The IMA supports their just demands. They deserve your immediate attention. The government of West Bengal is entirely capable of meeting all the demands,” he said in the letter dated October 10.
“Peaceful ambience and security are not a luxury. They are a prerequisite. We appeal to your goodself to settle the issues with the young generation doctors as an elder and the Head of the Government. The entire medical fraternity of India is concerned and trust you would be able to save their lives. If the offices of the Indian Medical Association could be of any help we would gladly assist,” he added.
The fast unto death by the junior doctors entered the sixth day, with the condition of one of them remaining “critical”. Doctor Aniket Mahato was admitted to the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Thursday night after his health condition deteriorated. A five-member medical board was constituted to oversee his treatment.
The protesting doctors have been demanding justice for the deceased woman medic at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, and the immediate removal of Health Secretary NS Nigam.
Their other demands include the establishment of a centralised referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges in the state, the implementation of a bed vacancy monitoring system, and the formation of task forces to ensure essential provisions for CCTV, on-call rooms, and washrooms at their workplaces.
They are also demanding increased police protection in hospitals, recruitment of permanent women police personnel, and swift filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare workers.
