Kolkata Meeting with Junior Doctors

In a meeting with representatives of the protesting junior doctors at Nabanna, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has directed the principals and medical superintendent-cum-vice-principals (MSVPs) of government medical colleges to avoid playing a political role and to carry out their duties impartially, ensuring they remain unaffected by any outside pressures.

During the meeting on Monday, the Chief Minister criticized the principals and MSVPs of five government medical colleges in Kolkata for their alleged inadequate management of issues concerning junior doctors and for failing to fulfil their responsibilities effectively.

Also read: RG Kar Protest: Junior doctors call off hunger strike, pledge to continue agitation

Supporting the junior doctors, Banerjee said as quoted by The Telegraph, “The junior doctors pointed out that if there is a problem, who will they get in touch with? For this, the principals and the MSVPs play a very important role. But I must say some principals and the MSVPs don’t play their role properly. I totally agree with you (junior doctors)."

Accusing the principals of playing “political roles”, she said, "Some principals play political roles (rajnoitik role palan koren). We have this information as well.... While selecting principals, we have to take into account whether the aspirant has the experience and other credentials. However, please don’t assume that we have influenced all the principals in our way."

It had recently been reported that junior doctors who had been on hunger strike since October 5 to protest against the rape and murder of a PG trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, ended their strike on Monday following a meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

The medics also called off their proposed shutdown in the state's health sector from Tuesday till an indefinite period. Earlier in the day, a 17-member delegation of the medics met Banerjee at the state secretariat and discussed various issues, including the prevailing "threat culture" in hospitals, justice for their deceased colleague and systemic changes in the state's healthcare infrastructure.

“The principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital is present here. You have suspended 47 students. However, you did not inform us about this. You should have sent the recommendations first to the health department and the health department should have consulted me. You sent the recommendations to the university (West Bengal University of Health Science),” she said.

“I made you principal so you could take care of all. You can have a grudge against someone. You can get allegations against someone. But you are making all the decisions on your own. Is this not a threat culture? I will request the principals to let us know before suspending someone. I do not want to destroy the academic future of a student," she added.

It came to light that Banerjee raised the role of the principals after a protesting junior doctor said the students who feel harassed on the campus do not know who they should approach for redress.

Also read: Threat Culture Allegations: Senior doctors gheraoed West Bengal Medical Council office