On Monday night, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee agreed to several key demands raised by junior doctors who had been protesting, including the removal of top officials such as Kolkata Police Commissioner Vineet Goyal, the Director of Medical Education (DME), and the Director of Health Services (DHS). Additionally, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North Division), accused of attempting to bribe the family of a doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9, will also be reassigned.
Despite these concessions, the striking doctors have not yet ended their protest as they await the implementation of the government’s assurances.
What Did the Meeting Minutes Reveal?
Earlier on Monday, the doctors dropped their demand for live streaming of their discussions with Mamata Banerjee. Both parties agreed to formally record the minutes of the meeting.
According to the meeting notes, both sides came to an understanding, which included the allocation of ₹100 crore to improve hospital infrastructure for doctors and revamp patient welfare committees.
A special task force, led by the Chief Secretary, will be created to address hospital safety and security concerns. This task force will include the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police (DGP), the Kolkata Police Commissioner, and representatives from the junior doctors.
The minutes also recorded the establishment of an “effective and responsive grievance redressal mechanism” for addressing issues related to medical infrastructure in hospitals and medical colleges across the state.
