Medical College strike: No respite for patients

Express News Service Posted: May 26, 2008 at 0207 hrs
Kolkata, May 25 The patients continued to be at the receiving end at the Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, as junior doctors and interns continued their strike for the second consecutive day on Sunday.

The authorities also failed to break the impasse today, as the protesting students shunned proposals for talks. The students have said that their agitation will continue until their demands of proper hostel seats and withdrawal of police complaints against five students, are met.

The patients at various wards of the hospital, including orthopaedic, gynaecology, and paediatrics had to face a hard time to get medical attention due to the strike.

“We are trying our best to solve the problem. The students are not coming forward for the talks. Meanwhile, we have made special arrangements in the Out Patients Department and wards. Patients, however, have suffered owing to the stir,” said A N Biswas, deputy superintendent of the hospital.

The four agitating junior doctors continued their hunger-strike. “The authorities are siding with the SFI by allowing their supporters to stay in the hostel, but depriving those who dare to oppose them. We have also been told to vacate our hostel while the examinations are on,” said Arkojyoti Mukherjee, one of the junior doctors.

The impasse began on May 23, when students of the SFI and Democratic Students Association clashed at the main hostel of the college.