Junior doctors in West Bengal have announced that they will resume their ceasework movement, citing systemic inefficiencies in the healthcare system and delays in rendering justice as primary reasons. It may be recalled that on August 9, the body of  a female junior doctor ‘Abhaya’ in the seminar room of the chest department Emergency at 138-year old R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, who had died in a brutal sexual attack. The incident shocked the consciousness of the people across the nation and the junior doctors went in a strike for 42 days demanding security and cessation of threat culture that have been in practice in the hospital as well as other institutions across the state for many years.

The protest saw major public support with people from all walks of life taking to streets forcing the state government to come to the table to discuss the issue with agitators. The doctors returned to work after the Chief Secretary of the  state assured them of taking steps to address their greviences.

On Tuesday, the doctors issued lengthy statement in which they expressed their dissatisfaction with the slowness of the legal system. They stated that the courts are repeatedly rescheduling the matter, including rescheduling the most recent hearing, originally scheduled for Monday, to October 14. " Since the hearing was short, the postponement has just made matters worse for us. Says one of the junior doctors, "Justice delayed is justice denied." That pretty much sums up their argument. 

Both legal delays and what the doctors perceive as a lack of commitment from the state administration contribute to their dissatisfaction. Despite several petitions, the state administration has not specifically addressed the systemic issues plaguing West Bengal's public hospitals. In two separate letters dated September 26 and 29, the junior doctors demanded that the state chief secretary form a task force to address the matter; however, they did not receive a response. 

The Chief Minister's unofficial announcement about the dissolution of the Patient Welfare Association (PWA) heightened angst, but the younger doctors still insist they haven't received any official word about the successor or any explanation about the structure. 

"Without another system, we are back where we were all along. A doctor elaborated, saying, "Medical colleges still mostly reflect the culture of threats and corruption." 

The doctors argue that a centralised referral mechanism would have helped to avoid this dilemma, which has grown more urgent following recent attack on junior doctors and other healthcare workers, including nurses at Sagar Dutta Hospital in Kamarhati. It would have been helpful to also monitor the availability of hospital beds.

The doctors’ trust in the judicial system has taken a hit due to the frequent postponements and slow responses. The doctors argue that the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI's) mismanagement of high-profile cases in the state, including this one, has enhanced their decision to restart the strike. The CBI took into custody two accused, Sandip Ghosh (former principal of RG Kar Medical College) and Abhijit Mondal (former officer in charge of Tala police station), on, but faced a severe tounge lashing from the presiding officer of special CBI Court at Sealdah. The court turned down their request for a further three-day remand for questioning, stating that the CBI's case faced significant challenges due to their inability to present compelling evidence supporting their need for custodial interrogation. Doctors are of the opinion that the CBI's disjointed approach exemplifies the ineffectiveness of the legal system. 

Meanwhile, people in the state no longer have faith in the healthcare and legal systems due to claims of slow justice and bureaucratic incompetence. The junior doctors' agition has sparked a broader conversation about the state's public hospital infrastructure. This isn't just an isolated incident; it's indicative of systemic problems like corruption, secrecy, and poor management of resources. 

The junior doctors argue that these factors contribute to the frequent violence against them and other healthcare workers in the hands of patients and their family members due to dissatisfaction with subpar treatment.

The doctors are demanding a centralised referral system that accurately tracks and reports available hospital beds for quite some time now. Many people believe that if public hospitals used this approach, patient care would improve and the environment would be less chaotic, potentially leading to fewer fights.

As a result, the general population is torn between the genuine demands of the doctors and the apathy of the State machinery, on one hand, they back the junior doctors' cause, and on the other, they are concerned about how the strike will impact healthcare facilities that are already struggling. 

The return of junior doctors to their agitation is causing treatment delays, surgery cancellations, and overcrowded emergency rooms, which in turn leads many hospitals unable to provide timely treatment, despite best efforts by the senior doctors and with the threat of already understaffed health system crumbling under pressure.

The recent strike lasted for 42 days and left many patients in severe conditions; as a result, some of them had no choice but to seek out expensive private healthcare alternatives. 

A return to the previous state of emergency would have devastating effects on West Bengal's healthcare system. Without junior doctors, who are considered as the backbone at public hospitals and other healthcare facilities, the senior medical staff, often already overwhelmed, will face immense strain. This can lead to a decline in essential services, particularly in remote areas where access to private treatment is limited. 

Those who require specialized treatments, surgical procedures, or urgent medical attention are most likely to feel the effects. As it is, West Bengal's already fragile public health system is ill-equipped to deal with the potentially fatal delays caused by a dearth of medical personnel. There is concern that the strike can spread to other states as medical professionals around the country are actively organising solidarity activities. 

The ongoing doctors’ strike presents a critical challenge to the state administration. The public's perception of fairness and their reliance on the public healthcare system could drive dissatisfaction if these issues remain unaddressed. The junior doctors have made it clear that they will persist until they see tangible improvements. Now the question is whether the state administration can act quickly enough to prevent a healthcare catastrophe.