New Delhi: Resident doctors from major hospitals in Delhi are set to protest outside Bengal Bhawan on Wednesday evening, demanding justice for a trainee doctor who was allegedly raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, reported the news agency PTI.
Doctors from prominent institutions such as AIIMS, Safdarjung Hospital, RML Hospital, GTB Hospital, Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lady Hardinge Medical College will join the protest.
This demonstration is part of a larger movement that began on August 12 with a nationwide strike following the trainee doctor’s death, lasting until August 22. The strike was suspended after assurances from the Supreme Court for a speedy investigation.
However, the RDA has expressed frustration over the lack of progress in the case, with no public update or action taken report (ATR) shared, despite a recent Supreme Court hearing. The association said the investigation has “stalled,” prompting renewed calls for justice. The issue of healthcare worker safety, especially for female doctors, has also come to the forefront.
“We trusted the process and suspended our strike, but now we feel betrayed,” a representative of the RDA Action Committee said, citing delayed actions and poor communication regarding their safety concerns.
The Joint Delhi RDA Action Committee plans to hold a press conference on Thursday to discuss the issue further and warn that if any harm comes to healthcare workers during the ongoing struggle, they will withdraw from all elective and emergency services.
Their key demands include justice for the trainee doctor, the removal of West Bengal Health Secretary N S Nigam, and improved safety measures, such as CCTV installations and on-call rooms at workplaces.
On August 20, the Supreme Court established a National Task Force (NTF) to address the safety of healthcare workers, with a preliminary report due within three weeks and a final report within two months. However, over 50 days have passed without any update, further fuelling the doctors’ outrage.
The West Bengal government has also faced criticism for failing to address the concerns of protesting junior doctors, some of whom are on a hunger strike in Kolkata.
The doctors of RG Kar Medical College had previously ended a 42-day protest on September 21 following state assurances but resumed their protest on October 5, citing unmet demands.
