Junior Doctors Persist in Stir Amid Promises of Reform

Junior doctors have continued their protests and work cessation near Swasthya Bhawan, awaiting the state government's implementation of promised reforms. Following partial success in talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the doctors demand concrete action on safety measures and the reallocation of officials. Healthcare services remain severely impacted.

Junior doctors continued their 'cease work' stir in hospitals and held a sit-in near Swasthya Bhawan on Tuesday morning, asserting they will take a final call on withdrawing their agitation only after the state government implements its announcements made on Monday night ''in true spirit''.

The protesting doctors expressed satisfaction over their ''partial success'' after a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the fifth attempt on Monday night.

''We have already said that we will decide our next step regarding the ongoing agitation and 'cease work' only after seeing concrete actions on the ground and the progress of the Supreme Court proceedings,'' said a protesting doctor at the protest site near Swasthya Bhawan, the West Bengal health department's headquarters, on Tuesday.

The doctors' demands include justice for the assaulted intern and the reallocation of certain officials. Following the meeting, Banerjee announced significant staff changes and financial allocations for hospital infrastructure improvements.

The agitating doctors are on 'cease work' across the state for 38 days, severely crippling healthcare services at state-run hospitals. The signed minutes of the meeting documented a Rs 100 crore sanction for infrastructure development in hospitals and the setting up of a special task force to tackle safety-security measures.

(With inputs from agencies.)