Junior doctors of the state-run National Medical College and Hospital called off their cease-work agitation and resumed work on Saturday evening, bringing an end to the severe disruption in services, which continued during the day.
The doctors went on strike on Thursday night demanding greater security for the physicians on the premises of the hospital after some of their colleagues were allegedly assaulted by the relatives of a patient on Thursday evening.
“We had placed a demand that the authorities intervene in the matter regarding our security. We have got an assurance that they will do so, which is why we have called off the strike and are resuming work right now,” said Shubankar Das, one of the physicians who participated in the cease-work agitation.
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Earlier, the doctors maintained that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who holds the Health portfolio, herself assured them that there would be no further incidents of violence at the hospital. However, Ms. Banerjee is away on a tour to some of the districts.
During the day, the doctors met Dr. Nirmal Majhi, a member of the Standing Committee on Health in the West Bengal Assembly, and hospital authorities to discuss their demands.