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Medics’ protest with the issues related to RG Kar hospital has caught the nation’s attention. 

Junior doctors have been fasting as a means of protest to get their demands fulfilled. 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday had asked the junior doctors to spell out their demands and she went on responding to each of them by telling them about the measures the government had taken.

Chief secretary Manoj Pant and home secretary Nandini Chakravorty were at the protest site when the chief minister was speaking to the protesting doctors over the phone on Saturday.

Protesters, later, expressed concern that the chief minister has not been apprised about their demands yet.

10 key demands of the agitating doctors are as follows: 

1. A definite answer to the question of 'justice' without further delay in view of a protracted judicial process

2. Removal of NS Nigam who is appointed as the state principal health secretary

3. Implementation of a centralised referral system in all hospitals without further delay

4. A digital bed vacancy monitor

5. A task force in each medical college with elected representatives of junior doctors to supervise installation of CCTV cameras and the setting up of on-call rooms and bathrooms

6. Increased police protection at hospitals and hiring of permanent male and female police personnel for hospitals. Civic volunteers should not be given the charge of handling hospital security (Abhaya was raped and murder by a civic volunteers Sanjay Roy on August 9 at state-run RG Kar hospital)

7. Vacancies in the ranks of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers should be filled immediately

8. An inquiry committee in every medical college to investigate those involved in “threat syndicates” and mechanisms to punish them. There should be an inquiry committee formed at the state level

9. Election to the students’ council and resident doctors’ association in every medical college

10. Investigation into complaints of corruption at the West Bengal Medical Council and the West Bengal Health Recruitment Board

Medics underscored these demands at the meeting with CM Banerjee at Nabanna on Monday. 

Protesters have also said that they would continue with their fast unto death until a verbal assurance to fulfil their demands is received from the government.