New Delhi,June 14:Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has appealed to Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee over the ongoing protests by doctors across the country that was triggered in Kolkata early this week.
Speaking to ANI, Harsh Vardhan said, “I appeal to West Bengal CM to not make this an issue of prestige. She gave the doctors an ultimatum and as a result they got angry and went on strike. Today, I will write to Mamata Banerjee ji and will also try to speak to her on this issue.”
The minister, who met a delegation of protesting doctors from AIIMS Delhi, said, “I’d like to assure all doctors that the government is committed towards their safety. I appeal to doctors to hold symbolic protests only and continue to carry out their duties.”
Protests by junior doctors in West Bengal entered the fourth day on Friday, hampering regular services in all government-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private hospitals.
Emergency services were, however, made available at one or two hospitals, including NRS Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on Friday morning.
Despite Mamata Banerjee’s warning of strict action on Thursday, the junior doctors are carrying on with their agitation.
Services were totally disrupted in outdoor facilities and other departments of state-run medical colleges and hospitals and a number of private medical facilities.
The junior doctors have been agitating since Tuesday demanding security for themselves in government hospitals, after two of their colleagues were attacked and seriously injured allegedly by relatives of a patient who died at the NRS Medical College and Hospital.
