Mamata gives four-hour ultimatum to withdraw strike; faces slogans at SSKM hospital
Kolkata, : Giving a four-hour ultimatum to withdraw strike and get back to work in all Government hospitals, a visibly annoyed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who paid a visit to state-run SSKM Hospital this morning, termed the agitation as ‘illegal’.
Ms Banerjee faced protest and slogans when she reached the city’s premier SSKM Hospital by the agitating junior doctors, who have been on a strike in protest against the assault on their fellow colleague by a patient party on Monday night.The strike has virtually brought medical services in all Government hospitals to a halt.
“We want justice, We want justice. Shame Shame” slogans by the striking medics rented the air at the SSKM Hospital in south Kolkata as soon as Ms Banerjee arrived the emergency ward to see the ground situation after the junior medics resorted to agitation to protest assault of two doctors at the NRS Hospital on Tuesday and four others at Burdwan Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday.
While facing slogans from the medics, Ms Banerjee said if the striking interns and junior medics did not join within four hours, punitive action would be initiated. She also said the health system
comes under essential services following an order by the Supreme Court and hence the agitation is illegal.
She also ordered the SSKM authorities to send two critical patients to a private hospital for treatment.
She said the essential act will be invoked if the medics did not join work and added there were many outsiders with the striking medics. She blamed the BJP and the CPI(M) for fomenting the agitation.
She also ordered the striking junior doctors to vacate hostels if they fail to join work.
“We have taken action and why you (medics) remain inactive,” and warned any obstruction to hospital services won’t be tolerated.
“If situation warrants, we may invoke the Essential Act in this sector,” she told reporters.
Ms Banerjee said she would set up a probe committee to probe the incident at the NRS Hospital on Tuesday.
She said the government has taken action and the attackers have been arrested, then why the medics have been agitating.
“We do not want any disturbance in the hospitals,” Ms Banerjee said adding even senior medics were prevented from doing work by the striking doctors.
Meanwhile, scores of patients and their relatives put up road blockade on AJC Bose Road in front of NRS Hospital near Sealdah, demanding treatment facility.
One of the affected patient party said even death certificate was not issued and there was no way to visit admitted patient.
UNI.