Kolkata: Eyeing major revamp in the safety and security of the public health care system, the West Bengal government has directed all the Principals of the state government-run Medical Colleges & Hospitals to introduce biometric systems.
“Detailed data of the construction workers, outsourced security personnel and housekeeping staff and all data, including address, will be maintained and the biometric system should be in place. I have directed the Principals of all the medical colleges, who were present in the meeting virtually, to monitor the safety and security of the hostels as well. We had a detailed discussion on implementation of the special scheme called “Ratri Sathi” and security audit will be done, led by former Retired IPS Surajit Purakayastha. Alarm system will be implemented,” Banerjee said after holding the meeting with all the medical colleges and hospitals across the state.
She said the Principals and HODs of 33 medical colleges expressed their opinions in the meeting. The old Patient Welfare committee has been dismantled, Banerjee said, adding “All the Principals will become the chairman. MSVP will be a member of the Committee. One junior doctor, a senior doctor, and a nurse will also be represented in the Committee.”
“The recruitment of 12,000 police personnel will be done, which will help in providing security,”
“We have allocated Rs 100 crore for implementation of CCTVs and other safety mechanisms. I have directed the Principals to take responsibility on their own. The responsibility of the security audit has been given to Surajit Purkayastha,” she noted
Meanwhile, West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF) on Thursday wrote a fresh letter to Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, stating that no action has been taken on the order passed by the West Bengal government, in regard to some of the important demands placed and agreed upon by the state government and the doctors. Meanwhile, WBJDF alleged that the state government has taken back permission to hold a convention in state-run auditorium on September 27 to discuss the future roadmap for their movement for justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim.
The doctors mentioned the major directives in the letter and wrote that these demands had not been met.
The letter mentions the directives to form a Central Enquiry Committee for Disciplinary proceedings against the alleged perpetrators involved in threat culture in all medical colleges of West Bengal; directive to individual colleges to form College Level Enquiry Committee consisting of undergraduate students and resident doctors for disciplinary proceedings against the individuals involved in ensuing “threat culture amongst all medical colleges”, to conduct College Council Meeting with immediate effect for the purpose of conducting democratic elections to form Resident Doctors Association and Students’ Union (elections to be heal within a span of 2 months) among others, have not been met yet.
The letter also pointed out directives like “Formation of Enquiry Committee by the State against WEMC and WBHRB members who are under scrutiny of promoting threat culture and running health syndicate within next 7 working days; Directive for the Formation of College Level Task Force/Monitoring committee in every medical college hospital constituting representatives of Junior Doctors, Senior Doctors, Students, Nursing and Health care staff or accondence with the Supreme Court onder SCWR 2/2024hed 17/9/2024”.
WBJDF alleged that the state government has taken back its permission to allow them to hold a convention on September 27 to discuss the future roadmap for their movement for justice for the RG Kar rape-murder victim.
“The administration is taking a vindictive attitude even after we showed flexibility to end the deadlock. Over one month has passed but there is not much evidence of the probe into our colleague sister’s rape and murder moving at the desired pace,” said one of the doctors, Aniket Mahato, a major face of the protest.
“You cannot intimidate anyone and stop protests. A ruler can do it. We will continue our protest as we did it earlier,” he added.
The agitating medics withdrew their 11-day sit-in before the state health department headquarters last week and partially rejoined emergency and essential services at state-run hospitals after talks with the state government.
