On Monday (October 14, 2024), young doctors marched towards Raj Bhavan to demand justice in the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. | Photo credit: Debasish Bhaduri

The indefinite hunger strike by young doctors in West Bengal to press for their demands following the RG Kar Hospital incident entered its 11th day on Tuesday (October 15, 2024) as a meeting between medical professionals and the state government failed to find a solution could deadlock.

Two more doctors participating in the 'fast unto death' in Kolkata's Esplanade area fell ill, further fueling the ongoing unrest triggered by the rape and murder of their colleague at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital.

A crucial meeting between representatives of 12 doctors' associations and chief secretary Manoj Pant held at Swasthya Bhavan on Monday (October 14, 2024) ended without a decision.

Also read: Doctor's rape and murder hearing in Kolkata LIVE: Supreme Court resumes hearing in suo motu case today

The doctors' hunger strike began on October 5, after nearly 50 days of “stoppage of work” in two phases following the rape and murder of a postgraduate student at the state-run RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 9.

On Tuesday (October 15, 2024), seven interns continued their hunger strike, with several requiring immediate medical attention.

Pulastha Acharya, a young doctor from NRS Medical College and Hospital, was admitted to the intensive care unit (CCU) of the facility on Sunday evening (October 13, 2024) after she complained of severe stomach pain.

The health condition of Tanaya Panja, another junior doctor at Kolkata Medical College and Hospital, deteriorated significantly when she lost consciousness, leading to her being urgently shifted to the medical facility for treatment.

Upon arrival, she was admitted to the intensive care unit where a team of doctors began immediate treatment.

The youngest young doctor to join the fast was from the ENT department of North Bengal Medical College and Hospital and started the hunger strike on Monday afternoon (October 14, 2024).

After the meeting with the doctors failed on Monday (October 14, 2024), Chief Minister Pant told reporters that the doctors had insisted on a clear timeline for meeting their demands, but the government had said that no such timeline was given could become.

“Seven of the 10 demands of the junior doctors have already been met while the remaining three required further administrative considerations,” Mr Pant said.

“They demanded specific deadlines for the remaining three demands. These are administrative decisions that the state must take into account, so we cannot give a deadline at this stage,” Mr Pant said.

Mr Pant invited the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD) for further discussions at the State Health Department headquarters and urged them to cancel their planned 'Threat Carnival' demonstration on October 15.

The JPD had announced the demonstration in solidarity with the young doctors, but the government expressed concerns that it would coincide with the state's annual Durga Puja carnival. The key demands of the young doctors include justice for the RG Kar Hospital victim, immediate removal of Health Minister NS Nigam and improved workplace safety, along with additional demands for a central hospital referral system, a vacant bed monitoring system and essential infrastructure such as: -Call rooms, video surveillance and appropriate washrooms.

Demanding a speedy and transparent CBI probe into the alleged rape-murder at RG Kar Hospital, agitated young doctors staged a rally at Raj Bhawan on Monday evening (October 14, 2024) and submitted a memorandum to the Secretary to the Governor.