Calcutta High Court and West Bengal government urge protesting doctors to resume duty

West Bengal government and Calcutta High Court urge protesting doctors to resume services amidst widespread protests over doctor's murder.

The West Bengal government and the Calcutta High Court urged protesting doctors to resume services in medical colleges and hospitals across the State on Tuesday, amidst widespread protests by junior doctors, medical professionals and paramedics over the rape and murder of a female doctor on duty at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH).

“...We wish to observe that there is pious obligation on the part of the doctors to treat their patients, more particularly the patients who come to the Government hospital, who are not from the affluent strata of society,” a Calcutta High Court Bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya said in its order on Tuesday.

“Therefore, we would appeal to the learned members of the medical profession to discuss with the senior officials of the State Government and consider calling off their agitation so that the public, who come to the hospitals for treatment are not put to prejudice,” the court said in its order.

Barring emergency admissions and scheduled procedures, medical services have significantly slowed down amidst protests at multiple hospitals since August 9, when the body of a female post-graduate trainee doctor was recovered from the seminar hall at the RGKMCH.

State Health Secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam on Tuesday said the absence of resident doctors from emergency and out-patient departments (OPD) had severely affected patients at multiple hospitals across the State.

“We are receiving complaints from patients that they are not getting timely emergency care in many hospitals. It is our appeal to the resident doctors that they must return to duty considering the commitment shown by the State government towards proper investigation of the case as well as towards ensuring the safety and security of resident doctors,” Mr. Nigam said on Tuesday.

He said that the State government strongly condemned the incident and assured a proper investigation into the case was being carried out.