Throwing light on the issue of hospital patients at hospitals suffering due to the ongoing strike by junior doctors, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that some political parties were "provoking" the matter.
In a Facebook post, she wrote
“An unfortunate incident took place in NRS Hospital 3 days ago. I sent my colleague, Chandrima Bhattacharjee, Minister-of-State, Health and Family Welfare to visit the injured doctor and talk to a section of the junior doctors who are agitating and request them to withdraw the agitation as people are not getting treatment. Cancer patients, kidney patients, accident victims, even children coming from distant places are suffering for not getting treatment.
I sent Commissioner of Police, Kolkata to talk to the junior doctors. 5 persons have been arrested and their bail prayers were rejected by Ld Court.
Our government has taken full care of the injured doctor. We pray that he recovers quickly. As per information received, he is stable and improving.
That day, one person died and complaint of the negligence of treatment has been lodged. An enquiry has been started to look into the issues from all sides.
We have taken all necessary action whatever required - our Additional Chief Secretary, Health visited the injured doctor and meta section of the agitating junior doctors and appealed to them to resume services.
Our government is giving full co-operation and taking all necessary action. But, in spite of that, provocations are coming from other political parties, which no one should fall trapped into.
Today when I visited SSKM, I saw gatherings of outsiders of different political parties shouting slogans in hospital silence zones and stopping emergency services. Patient parties are crying and outdoor services are closed.
I sent some patients to private hospitals for immediate treatment.
I am grateful to senior doctors and professors who are offering full services to the people. My humble regards to them for their cooperation.
Some misinformation/disinformation being spread on social media by some political parties are completely untrue.
I am uploading some pictures of suffering patient parties that I saw in SSKM today.
Health service is always dedicated to patients.
I, therefore, appeal to all to restore normal healthcare services to the patients without any further delay.
Jai Hind, Jai Bangla”
Earlier, Banerjee had also written to senior doctors of all medical colleges and hospitals in the state and requested them to continue taking care of patients. She requested the senior doctors to take full care of the hospitals and run them smoothly