Around 35 doctors of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri also gave mass resignations in support of the junior doctors’ protest in Kolkata, the doctors’ forum of the medical establishment said.”We, the teachers of North Bengal Medical College, are dismayed and discouraged to continue our services, under such oppressive circumstances. While our students and juniors stand on the verge of disaster, we earnestly request the higher authorities to address their demands and ensure resolution of this crisis without any further delay. However, there being no such effort evident till now, we request you to kindly accept our resignation from the West Bengal Medical Education Service,” their mass resignation letter read.Dr Sunit Hazra, an orthopaedic surgeon at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, explained that the resignations were intended to exert pressure on the state government, which has remained silent during the ongoing hunger strike by junior doctors.”Our resignation is symbolic, aimed at prompting the government to engage in discussions. We do not want the patients to suffer. We are treating them and will continue to do so because it is our duty and we are morally obliged to do that,” he said.Explaining the way hospitals function during festivities, Hazra said that the duty roster is prepared keeping in mind that everybody can be part of the festivities.”So, we know how to replace a doctor in his absence. In hospitals, there is always a backup for a doctor. If somebody is absent, we can replace him or her immediately so that healthcare services are not affected,” he said.Dr Hiralal Konar, joint convener of the joint platform of doctors of West Bengal, said, “This (tendering mass resignation) has become viral among doctors after seeing the state government unmoved even when a few young doctors are on fast-unto-death.””The senior doctors have realised that only mass resignation could move the state government. We are waiting for the state government to come forward and address the issues as soon as possible so that there is no life threat to those on hunger strike,” he said.Another patient, Bikramjit Chattopadhyay, who is scheduled for a pacemaker battery replacement at SSKM Hospital, said that the operation is as per schedule and will take place on Thursday.During Durga Puja, OPDs are closed only on ‘Ashtami’ (which falls on Friday this year) and are operational during the rest of the days during the puja.A total of 54 senior doctors of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital resigned en masse on Tuesday.Doctors in West Bengal are protesting after the alleged rape and murder of a woman medic at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in August.
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