Junior doctors at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) began an indefinite work stoppage Friday, protesting the suspension of six colleagues over the death of a woman following childbirth.
The West Bengal government on Thursday suspended 12 doctors, including six postgraduate trainees, citing negligence in the woman’s death and the critical condition of three others. The suspensions followed alleged administration of expired intravenous fluids, according to officials.
The junior doctors accused the state administration of using the suspensions to deflect attention from corruption and deficiencies in the health department.
“This decision is an attempt to divert focus from issues like adverse drug reactions and corruption within the health system,” said a junior doctor and member of the Junior Doctors Forum. “We are standing in solidarity with our colleagues and have announced a complete cease work starting at 8 AM today.”
Doctors in the obstetrics-gynecology and anesthesia departments initiated the protest late Thursday night, calling the suspensions unjust.
The state government’s decision to suspend the 12 doctors — including the hospital’s medical superintendent, vice principal, resident medical officer, a senior resident, and the postgraduate trainees — came after an investigation by the state CID and an expert health department committee. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the probe found the doctors negligent in their duties.
Banerjee added that the CID would file charges against the doctors and continue its investigation. The government also announced it would halt the use of intravenous fluids and other medicines from the implicated manufacturer in state-run hospitals.
The protesting doctors expressed hope that the suspension orders would be revoked soon.