Doctors' strike in West Bengal enters third day, Out Patient Departments in Siliguri hospitals to remain shut

Kolkata: The Out Patient Departments (OPDs) in the Siliguri district hospital and North Bengal Medical College and Hospital will remain shut on Thursday as junior doctors’ strike has entered the third day, leaving hundreds of patients in the lurch. [caption id=“attachment_6806481” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. Reuters[/caption] The doctors’ protest erupted on Tuesday after an intern at the Nil Ratan Sarkar Medical College and Hospital was allegedly attacked by the relative of a patient who died on 10 June. “The authorities have opened a parallel emergency system where senior doctors will exam serious medical cases of the patients,” sources at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital told ANI. “There are 22 OPD doors in these hospitals where more than 4000 people turn up every day on an average”, the source added. “We have already explained our demands in posters. The chief minister should come here and she hasn’t reached yet,” a doctor, who was protesting here, said. Moreover, the incident has triggered protests from doctors in other government hospitals across the state. According to hospital authorities, adequate security arrangements have been made in the premises of the hospital. Earlier, the family members of the deceased patient staged a protest alleging medical negligence by doctors. Chandrima Bhattacharya, West Bengal health minister said four individuals have been arrested in connection with the case. The doctor who was attacked is reportedly admitted in the intensive care unit after he sustained grievous injuries.