A few agitating postgraduate trainees resumed work at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on Tuesday amid signs that the strike by junior doctors at the hospital that had started more than a fortnight ago was about to end.
Senior doctors said many others would resume duty by Wednesday.
The authorities of the medical college told the agitating junior doctors that many of their demands would be addressed but only after they resumed duty and returned to classes.
The authorities also underlined that junior doctors could not decide who would be the principal of the medical college, signalling the government’s resolve not to bow to pressure from the protesters.
Among the demands of the junior doctors, who have been on a strike for more than a fortnight, is the removal of the principal.
“Issues related to the girls’ hostel and others will be given utmost priority. But junior doctors need to resume duty,” said a senior doctor of the hospital, who is also a member of the mentor group set up to resolve the impasse.
“Students and junior doctors can’t decide on policy issues. They can’t decide who will be the principal of which medical college. That is for the chief minister to decide.”
Some agitating doctors said they were ready to withdraw their strike but the health secretary should first hold a meeting in public.
At Swasthya Bhavan, secretary Narayan Swarup Nigam said all efforts were being made to resolve the impasse. “I hope the stalemate will end shortly,” Nigam said after meeting members of the mentor group and senior officials of the health department, including the director of medical education.
Since Monday, the heads of all departments have been visiting the wards of the medical college. “The deputy superintendent and several other senior doctors are available. If any patient has any issues, he or she is welcome to meet us," said a senior doctor.
Despite the assurance, a number of patients left the hospital on Tuesday. Junior doctors said the government was keener on breaking the agitation than addressing the issues they had been highlighting.
