By: Barnali Bose, Editor-ICN Group
KOLKATA: With eyes transfixed on the small screen, people waited for the live telecast of the most unique event in recent times. Never had such a live telecast been made in the history of India.
June 17, 2019 will be inscribed in the pages of Indian Political and Medical history. Not only at homes,in restaurants and offices, but also at NRS, junior doctors from all over the campus assembled in front of the giant TV screen to watch the proceedings.
One could see apprehensions outlining their faces as they waited for the action to begin. There was pin-drop silence. There was many a pounding heart and many a sweating palm in anticipation of that which was to transpire.
At Nabanna, The Official Headquarters Of The Chief Minister
The live telecast began just after 4 pm. The conference room was bursting at the seams. Around the oval set up, sat important designation holders that were inclusive of state secretaries and police personnel. Extra seats were arranged for those who mattered the most.
The lady in a blue- bordered simple white cotton sari walked in and greeted those who had come to meet her, with a smile and a nod.
Mamata Banerjee, in a matter-of- fact manner introduced her associates to the 31 doctors’ team that was present at the Chief Minister’s office, Nabanna in Howrah. The much-awaited meeting to resolve the concerns of the agitating junior doctors in Bengal had just begun.
A Recap Of What Had Triggered And Fueled The Stir:
As a resident of the state, I had been tracing the sequence of events and wondering what we were heading towards. Well, here’s a quick recapitulation of the occurrences.
On June 10, at NRS, a government hospital in Kolkata, an elderly patient succumbed to a heart attack perhaps aggravated by old age.
The family members accused the doctors of negligence. They came back, armed with sticks and stones and along with their ‘accomplices’ attacked two hapless junior doctors on duty to the point of inflicting one of them with serious skull injuries.
Junior doctors ceased work, demanding security and punitive action against the assaulters. It created a ripple effect encompassing not only hospitals in the state but elsewhere.
The Chief Minister, instead of pacifying the agitating doctors ordered them to join duty or vacate the hostels.
The infuriated doctors put across a five point demand that included security, better infrastructure and legal action against the assaulters.
It is significant that political parties that tried to meddle with the movement to gain political mileage were warded off.
The Governor advised Mamata Banerjee Minister to step forward to tide over the impasse that brought medical services in government run hospitals to a standstill.
The assaulted doctors suffered from post-traumatic complications like short-term memory loss and blurred vision.
A press conference took place hours after agitating junior doctors turned down the invite for a closed-door meeting.
The Ripple Effect:
The movement did not remain confined to abstinence from duty of junior doctors alone. The entire medical fraternity including the paramedical and nursing staff extended support the cause.
Mass resignation of doctors in the state went up to 1034. It included departmental heads and senior faculty members.
Although the doctors admitted that the health system was crippled,they termed the strike ‘a battle of survival’ for them.
At AIIMS, doctors extended support to their counterparts in Bengal by wearing black badges and helmets while attending patients.
The movement found support in Kerala, Hyderabad, Chandigarh and even Jammu and Kashmir.
The Indian Medical Association (IMA), directed members of its state branches to stage protests and wear black badges in solidarity with West Bengal doctors. It called for a nation-wide strike on June 17 if the matter was not resolved.
Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan Saturday asked states and Union Territories to consider enacting specific legislation for protecting doctors and medical professionals from any form of violence.
The Historical End To The Stalemate
Finally after almost a week of what had appeared to be a dead end, the agitating doctors agreed to meet the Chief Minister to submit their 12 point demand ( escalated from the previous 5 point demand) with the precondition that the meeting be streamed live on television.
The doctors were then invited to voice their grievances. Neither were voices raised nor accusations hurled.She not only lent a patient ear but uninhibitedly seconded their concerns. She asked for suggestions and there and then approved of them.
The tension and discomfort that had marked the commencement soon eased into an atmosphere of positive constructive discussion.
Key decisions with regard to enhancement of security and infrastructure were taken live by the Chief Minister who negotiated the discussion like a true statesman. Political finesse laced with motherly affection and trust helped break the ice.
Mamata Banerjee reinforced her trust in the doctors by calling them “ good boys”. She assured them that no cases were lodged against them.
She had earlier brought to their notice that despite the existence of ESMA she had not booked them for dereliction of duty as had been done in nine states in India.
She said, “ I don’t want your careers to be affected. You are our future.” A win-win situation for both the agitators and the government, the meeting ended on an amicable note.
The image of the government that had suffered a major setback in the recent Lok Sabha elections got the much needed boost. True to the meaning of her name, Mamata Banerjee’s motherly attitude towards the junior doctors touched almost one and all.
It was indeed a historical 95 minutes meeting between the Chief Minister of a state and agitating doctors in the presence of Media and with the common mass as witness.
The Outcome
The doctors announced an end to cease-work that very evening at the epi-centre of their movement, the NRS hospital and rejoined duty without any further delay.
Key decisions made include extending medical treatment to doctors free of cost even in private hospitals, recruiting PR professionals as “grief counsellors” to bridge the gap between “ overworked doctors” and “ aggrieved patients’ kin”,launching a portal where doctors can lodge complaints against abuse,grievance redressal cell to be made “ visible” for patients among many others.
Security measures have already been beefed up and a good number of measures already taken, as had been assured.
Some of them are only vehicles carrying patients are now being allowed in the campuses, staffers have to display their ID cards to enter the wards,with a patient only two persons are allowed in the Emergency Ward whereas only one person in OPD, panic button has been installed, medical security toll free helpline 18003458246 activated and police outposts at all major hospitals are being manned by an ACP instead of inspectors.
Many more such as installation and monitoring of CCTV are being chalked out and will be implemented as soon as possible.
The injured interns are now recuperating and any probability of a permanent disability that was earlier feared is now a remote possibility. However, the mental trauma, only time will heal.
The Paradox
We either place them on a pedestal or hurl abuses at them. We worship them or condemn them. Why so?
Instances of medical personnel being verbally abused, threatened and assaulted are fairly common across the country.
Can a doctor treat if he is perpetually overshadowed by the impending fear of assault? Why do we make doctors the subject of adulation or damnation? Let us not forget that doctors are in a profession that makes them come face to face with life and death at every moment.
However,at the same time, in recent years, we have been coming across innumerable incidents of deaths resulting from negligence of doctors all over the country.
While I do not endorse violence in any form and whatever the cause might be, it is imperative that accountability is a must and so is empathy.
Unfortunately, erratic duty schedules in government hospitals due to the imbalance in the doctor- patient ratio and lack of proper infrastructure very often leads to frustration in the attending doctors.This frustration, they often vent out on the helpless patients and their family members.
We are well aware that the health care system in our country needs immediate rebooting. Most often, therefore, it is not the doctor but the lack of medical facilities that is actually to blame.
However, It is empathy that can be a magic balm to suffering patients and also a pacifier to bereaved family members. Efficiency and empathy should go hand in hand in a profession that is entrusted with the most valuable thing anyone can possess- one’s life. So also the doctors deserve our empathy for trying to do their best in not- so congenial conditions.
