Resident doctors in West Bengal and Udaipur have decided to end their strike after receiving assurances from the Supreme Court concerning the investigation into the rape and murder of a female resident doctor. The strike, which had significantly impacted healthcare services, was called off after the court promised a thorough inquiry and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.

Dr. Deepak Ninama, the head of the resident union at Udaipur's RNT Medical College, confirmed that the doctors at RNT will resume work today, August 23, 2024. He explained that the decision to return to work was made following strong assurances from the Supreme Court, which included commitments to improve safety and security for healthcare workers.

The strike had started on August 13, involving 631 resident doctors and 50 senior residents at RNT Medical College. During this period, the doctors halted most medical services, including outpatient departments (OPDs), academic activities, ward services, and elective surgeries, to demand justice for the deceased doctor and better protection for medical professionals.

Despite the strike, emergency services such as those in the ICU, emergency operations, labor room, and DRP postings were resumed on Thursday to ensure critical care was not disrupted. The decision to maintain emergency services during the strike was made to balance the doctors' protest with their commitment to patient care.

The situation escalated on August 15 after an incident of violence and vandalism against doctors at Kolkata Medical College on the night of August 14. This led to a complete withdrawal from work by the resident doctors, who demanded immediate action and reassurances for their safety.

Following nationwide protests and discussions with authorities, the Supreme Court's intervention and promises led to the doctors calling off their strike. The resident doctors now hope for swift action and systemic changes to ensure a safer working environment for all medical professionals.

Source: Dainik Bhaskar