Kolkata: Dr RV Asokan, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met with the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front, who are on a hunger strike over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital murder-rape case in Esplanade, Kolkata. Following his visit, Dr. Asokan expressed concern for the health of the protesting doctors. He said, “IMA has appealed to the government to address this in emergency cases considering the deteriorating health of these doctors. The entire medical fraternity is concerned and, after these many days of fasting, I see their confidence. Not even once did they speak about themselves; they spoke about the system and corruption; they were concerned about people. They are standing up for the cause of the people and not for themselves.”
“The nation is concerned, doctors of India are concerned. After an unfortunate incident, the nation has reacted. The Supreme Court has decided to intervene but still, the movement has not died. So I wanted to find out and for the past 7 days, the doctors have been on a hunger strike and we are naturally concerned for their health. Today we have met them. We have known their demands which we feel are eminently doable. We have also come to appeal to the West Bengal government to resolve the crisis that has made me come here…I am sure the Chief Minister will be able to address this insecurity and take these boys and girls back to their work by accommodating their demands…”, The IMA President said.
Meanwhile, the doctors of the West Bengal Junior Doctors Front are continuing their protest over the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital murder-rape case, where a woman trainee doctor was found dead in the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. Among their demands are better security in hospitals in Kolkata and the removal of the health secretary.
