On the 40th day of the strike, the meeting ended without progress, mainly because the government refused to provide written records of the discussions, according to the doctors.
The second round of talks between junior doctors and the West Bengal government, intended to resolve the ongoing strike, ended in disappointment. The doctors expressed dissatisfaction with the discussions and announced they would continue their agitation and work stoppage.
On the 40th day of the strike, the meeting failed to make progress, largely due to the government’s refusal to provide written minutes of the talks, according to the doctors.
Despite receiving “verbal assurances” on several safety and security concerns in hospitals, doctors were frustrated by the lack of written confirmation from the government, even after repeated requests. Later in the day, the government issued unsigned minutes of the meeting.
“We are not satisfied with the meeting’s outcome. While the state government agreed on many issues regarding hospital safety, they gave no concrete assurances,” a doctor said after the meeting at Nabanna.
This round of talks, unlike the previous session led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was overseen by Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, indicating a shift in approach.
“The talks remain inconclusive. While Monday’s meeting with the Chief Minister was positive, today’s was not at all encouraging. We’ve been asked to submit a draft of our additional demands to the Chief Secretary, who will review them,” another doctor reported.
Stenographers accompanied the doctors to document the meeting, as was done during the earlier discussion with CM Banerjee at her Kalighat residence.
The medics are also calling for broader representation on a state task force focused on safety and security, after the government proposed including 4-5 of their representatives.
According to the minutes released by the government, both sides agreed to implement central directives, such as deploying female police officers for night patrols, installing panic buttons in each department, and setting up helplines for quick intervention.
Demands Addressed
In response to earlier demands, Chief Minister Banerjee replaced Kolkata Police Chief Vineet Goyal with Manoj Kumar Verma and removed two senior health department officials.
The junior doctors reiterated their willingness to return to work, but only if the government takes “concrete and visible steps” to meet their demands.
What are the demands?
- One key demand is the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the Principal Health Secretary for alleged misconduct over the past several years.