Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday increased the salaries of senior resident doctors serving under the West Bengal Health Services. She announced this at a meeting with the doctors during the day.
Many believe that this is an effort to rebuild ties with the medical fraternity that was up in arms over the rape and murder of a post graduate trainee doctor at the R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata last August.
The CM also revoked the suspension of doctors of the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. These doctors were suspended after the death of patient who had undergone C-Section at the hospital. The state health department had accused these doctors of negligence.
“We had previously increased the salaries of both senior and junior resident doctors, but a further revision is necessary. Therefore, we have decided to raise the salaries of senior resident doctors across all levels by Rs 15,000. As a result, diploma-holding senior resident doctors will now receive Rs 80,000 instead of Rs 65,000, while post-graduate senior residents will get Rs 85,000 instead of Rs 70,000. Additionally, post-doctorate senior doctors, who currently earn Rs 75,000, will receive Rs 1 lakh,” Mamata said.
Doctors had taken to the streets in protest after the gruesome death of their colleague at R G Kar Hospital. While junior doctors had gone on strike, several seniors had put in their papers. The junior doctors went on a hunger strike later and some of them fell ill.
There were nationwide protests by doctors and the matter went to the Supreme Court which ordered the deployment of Central Industrial Security Force personnel at R G Kar. The state was also directed to enhance security at all hospitals in West Bengal. A National Task Force was also set up to recommend measures to provide more security to medical professionals across the country.
The sole accused in the case Sanjoy Roy has been sentenced to life imprisonment while the then principal of R G Kar Medical College and Hospital Sandip Ghosh is still behind the bars, facing corruption charges.
