The All India Medical Association (IMA), Bengal branch, has now stepped in to show its support for the junior doctors' protest. In a bid to strengthen the movement and attract more attention to the cause, the IMA has called for a 12-hour symbolic fast on Sunday. This fast will take place across various districts, including Kolkata. The idea behind this symbolic gesture is to gather wider support for the junior doctors who have been at the forefront of the ongoing hunger strike. By bringing in the IMA, the protest is gaining more legitimacy and recognition from the broader medical community.

The junior doctors' protest has certainly not gone unnoticed. It has managed to grab significant public attention, with many people stepping up to express their solidarity. Concern for the health and well-being of the medical professionals on hunger strike has been pouring in from various quarters. People understand the gravity of the situation, as these doctors are not just fighting for their own rights but for the improvement of the entire healthcare system in the state.

As this situation continues to develop, the key question remains: will the government take steps to address the doctors' demands? The ongoing strike is a clear signal of the frustration and urgency felt by the medical community, and it is now up to the authorities to decide whether they will intervene to resolve the issues at hand. Without meaningful action, it is uncertain when or how this protest will come to an end. The well-being of both the doctors and the healthcare system they serve hangs in the balance as the strike continues.

'Security not a luxury': IMA writes to Bengal government over doctors' hunger strike

In a significant move, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sent a formal letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, raising concerns over the ongoing hunger strike by junior doctors. This protest was sparked by the horrifying rape and murder incident at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The letter emphasizes the urgent need for the government to step in and address the situation, stating that the protestors "deserve your immediate attention."

The letter outlines the seriousness of the situation, highlighting that "It has been almost a week since the young doctors of Bengal are on a fast-unto-death struggle." The IMA, showing full support for the junior doctors' cause, stressed that their demands are justified and that the Government of West Bengal is entirely capable of meeting all the demands. The letter clearly conveys that the medical community does not see these demands as extravagant but necessary. "Peaceful ambience and security are not a luxury. They are a prerequisite," the letter boldly declares, calling on the Chief Minister to take prompt action.

In a respectful appeal, the IMA urged Mamata Banerjee to settle the matter with the young doctors, suggesting that she should approach them as "an elder and the Head of the Government." The letter also reassures the CM that the entire medical fraternity across India is watching the situation with concern, and they trust that she will be able to "save their lives." Moreover, the IMA has offered to help in any way possible, adding, "If the offices of the Indian Medical Association could be of any help, we would gladly assist."

While the letter seeks to resolve the issue, the situation on the ground remains critical. On Thursday night, one of the junior doctors participating in the hunger strike at Esplanade had to be hospitalized due to worsening health conditions. The doctor was identified as Aniket Mahato, one of the seven doctors who have been on a fast-unto-death since Saturday evening. According to senior doctor Subarna Goswami, "Aniket Mahato's condition worsened and his parameters were not good. He was taken to RG Kar hospital and will be admitted to the intensive care unit."

Mahato has been one of the most visible faces of this protest, leading the charge to demand justice for the rape and murder victim of RG Kar Hospital, a cause he has been championing for the past two months. His hospitalization adds to the gravity of the ongoing protest, as he has been one of the key figures pushing for change in the face of continued inaction.

Another doctor who has been protesting alongside Aniket Mahato shared the grim details of Mahato’s deteriorating health, saying, "His pulse rate was very low and his other health parameters were also not normal." This alarming decline in Mahato’s condition has only intensified the concerns surrounding the hunger strike.

In response to the growing health risks posed to the junior doctors, the state health department sent a team of four specialist doctors to the Esplanade area, where the hunger strike is taking place, to closely evaluate the medical condition of the seven junior doctors who have been on hunger strike for the past five days. Speaking on behalf of the team, Diptendra Sarkar made it clear that their mission was to assess the health situation of the doctors. He acknowledged that, "It is quite natural that their health parameters wouldn’t be very good after five days of fasting." Despite the urgency, the tone of Sarkar’s message was one of deep concern, likening the team of specialists to guardians who are watching over the young doctors. "We are like their parents, and as elders, we have suggested that they should be admitted to a hospital before their condition worsens," he added.

The hunger strike, which has now entered its sixth day, was initiated after the junior doctors claimed that the government had failed to fulfill their demands. Their frustration has reached a tipping point, and their protest continues to grow stronger despite the physical toll it is taking on them. Dr. Debasish Halder, one of the protesting doctors, elaborated on the health deterioration among the strikers, stating, "They are very weak and all their parameters are declining. The presence of creatinine in their urine has increased." This detail underscores the serious strain the hunger strike is placing on their bodies, as rising creatinine levels can indicate kidney stress or dysfunction. Halder further remarked that despite seven days of fasting and the resulting physical decline, "it hasn't weakened their resolve for justice." The doctors remain unwavering in their commitment to seeking justice for their fallen colleague.

Meanwhile, the focus has shifted to the critical health condition of Aniket Mahato, who is now in the critical care unit (CCU) of RG Kar Hospital. His condition has been described as "critical but stable." According to a senior doctor monitoring his progress, Mahato is responding positively to treatment, with some improvement in his vital health parameters thanks to the medical care he is receiving. However, the doctor cautioned that "he will need a few more days to fully recover." Mahato’s participation in the indefinite hunger strike, which began on October 6, took a dangerous turn on Thursday when he was rushed to the hospital after his health took a sudden downturn.

The roots of this agitation can be traced back to a horrifying event that shook the medical community. On August 9, a woman doctor was raped and murdered inside the seminar hall of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The brutal crime has left the medical community reeling, and the hunger strike is a direct response to what the junior doctors see as a lack of adequate action and support from the government. Sanjay Roy was arrested for the crime, but the protesting doctors demand more justice and systemic changes to prevent such incidents from happening again.

As the hunger strike continues, the pressure mounts on the government to act swiftly before the health of more doctors deteriorates. The situation is delicate, and the medical fraternity is watching closely, hoping for a resolution that brings both justice and reform.