KOLKATA: The health of Aniket Mahato, a junior doctor on hunger strike in Kolkata, has deteriorated. Mahato, along with six other junior doctors, has been protesting for several days over the rape and murder of a fellow doctor at a state-run hospital. He was hospitalised on Thursday with severe dehydration and is now receiving critical care in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
A team of five doctors has been appointed by the Kolkata Government to monitor Mahato’s condition. Dr (Prof) Soma Mukhopadhyay, who is in charge of the CCU, stated, “He was brought to the hospital in an unconscious condition. His condition is critical. He has been provided with oxygen and other necessary treatment for a patient who has not consumed water for the past few days. His condition is quite unstable.”
The West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front, which has been leading the protest, announced that their movement would intensify. Debashis Halder, a spokesperson for the group, stated that the government has yet to meet their demands. These include justice for the victim at RG Kar Medical College, the formation of task forces in all hospitals with elected junior doctor representatives, installation of CCTV cameras, better on-call rooms, proper bathroom facilities, and a strengthened police presence through the hiring of permanent men and women officers to replace civic volunteers.
The junior doctors are also demanding the removal of State Health Secretary NS Nigam, the implementation of a digital system to monitor bed vacancies in every medical institution, the immediate filling of vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, and the swift conduct of student council elections in all medical colleges.
In solidarity, over 70 senior doctors from government colleges across Kolkata resigned on October 9, expressing their protest against the state government’s lack of response to the hunger strike.
Representatives of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), led by national president RV Asokan, met the agitating junior doctors who have been on an indefinite hunger strike demanding justice for their murdered colleague at RG Kar Hospital.
“I am touched by the way these children are fighting for the cause of the people and not for themselves. I am emotional. They are the real heroes, and we are all very proud of them,” Asokan said on Friday after meeting the junior doctors at Dorina Crossing here.
Earlier, the IMA expressed concern over the deteriorating health conditions of the fasting junior doctors, prompting it to write to CM Mamata Banerjee for immediate intervention.