End in sight: Mamata to meet junior doctors today

Kolkata: The junior doctors of NRS Medical College and Hospital and other medical colleges who have been on a strike for nearly a week, have finally responded to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's invitation and expressed their wish to hold talks with her.

Banerjee has called the agitating junior doctors for a meeting at Nabanna at 3 pm on Monday. Sources in the state secretariat said that 28 representatives - two each from the 14 medical colleges and hospitals in the state, have been asked to attend the meeting.

The junior doctors have demanded that the discussion with the Chief Minister should not be held behind closed doors and the media should be allowed to cover the meeting.

Following a general body meeting on Sunday, the junior doctors of NRS Medical College and Hospital said: "We want an immediate end to this impasse through a discussion with the Chief Minister, which, to maintain transparency, shouldn't be held behind closed doors but open to media under camera coverage."

The junior doctors said that they were ready to meet Banerjee at a venue fixed by the government. They also placed certain demands saying that junior doctors from all the medical colleges would be representing during the meeting.

"We want to resume our work as early as possible in the best interest of the common people. We hope that our Chief Minister will be considerate enough to solve the problems," reads a statement issued by the junior doctors.

Meanwhile, Nabanna sources said that the meeting is likely not to be held in the presence of media as demanded by the junior doctors.

However, the agitating doctors can address the media after the meeting. Senior officials from the state Health department will also be present during the meeting.

Banerjee on Saturday had again urged the agitating doctors to initiate dialogue to overcome the deadlock that has been affecting thousands of patients at various hospitals. She also clarified that she would not take any coercive steps like implementing the Essential Services Maintenance Acts (ESMA).

It has been learnt that the Director Medical Education Dr Pradip Mitra has formally informed Health Secretary Rajiva Sinha about the stand taken by the junior doctors. The matter was immediately informed to the government.