According to news reports, trainee doctors in Kolkata, West Bengal, declared a complete work stoppage starting on Tuesday.
Thousands of interns gathered in downtown Kolkata the previous day, demanding the state government fulfill its promises to install CCTV cameras in hospitals, hire security personnel, strengthen security measures, and increase the number of medical staff.
Dozens of civil organizations also joined the protest, calling for an end to violence against women.
The large-scale protests and strikes by West Bengal doctors stemmed from the murder of a trainee in August.
On Aug. 9, a female trainee doctor working at a hospital in Kolkata was raped and murdered after she went to a hospital seminar room to rest following dinner.
Although police arrested a hospital employee as a suspect, the victim's family raised the possibility of gang rape.
Fellow interns began protesting, demanding a thorough investigation and calling on the state government to strengthen hospital security measures, such as installing CCTV cameras. This led to a collective strike.
However, the interns returned to work last month when heavy flooding struck West Bengal. The state government also agreed to meet their demands. Despite this, CCTV installation has been slow.
The West Bengal Junior Doctors Front (WBJDF) emphasized that while they resumed work based on the government's promises, nothing has been implemented. "Unless we receive clear action from the government on safety, patient services, and the politics of fear, we will have no choice but to continue our full strike," WBJDF said in a statement.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
