2019 India doctors' strike

Last updated
2019 Indian doctors' strike
Date11 June 2019 – 17 June 2019 (7 days)
Location
Caused byLack of security in government hospitals
Assault on two junior doctors at NRSMCH
GoalsProvisioning security for medical professionals
Public apology from the Chief Minister of West Bengal
Methods
StatusStalled
Parties
Doctors and medical associations across India
Government of West Bengal
Lead figures
Casualties
Injuries2 junior doctors
Arrested5 people

On 11 June 2019, following the assault of two junior doctors at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH) the previous night, junior doctors in Kolkata began protesting and demanded that the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, should intervene and provide adequate security to medical professionals. The protests caused a collapse of healthcare facilities in the state. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Protests continued through 13 June, despite attempts at mediation, resulting in the chief minister issuing an ultimatum to the protesting doctors. [12] [13] [14] [15] The doctors ignored the ultimatum, asking the government to meet their demands for security [16] and for the chief minister to give them a public apology. [17]

Contents

Background

Historical incidents

Doctors' protest demanding justice for a fellow doctor who was a victim of mob violence Doctors protest for a safe work environment.jpg
Doctors' protest demanding justice for a fellow doctor who was a victim of mob violence

According to an Indian Medical Association survey, due to the increasing reports of violence against doctors, the main source of stress for doctors was fear of violence, followed by the fear of being sued. 62% of the doctors who answered the survey reported that they were unable to see their patients without any fear of violence, and 57% had also considered hiring security staff at their workplace. [18]

When healthcare workers were assaulted, they frequently resorted to peaceful strikes, which sometimes included termination of ward and emergency services. During such protests, it was not uncommon for the public to attack the protesters. [19]

In a tertiary care hospital in Delhi, 40% of the doctors reported being exposed to violence in the last year. The point of delivery of emergency services was the most common place of violence and verbal abuse was the most common form of violence. The most common symptoms experienced by the doctors who were subjected to violence were anger, frustration and irritability. Out of those who were exposed to violence, only 44% reported the incidents to the authorities. [20]

Instances of assaulting medical professionals in government and private hospitals is common in West Bengal [8] and India. [21]

In an incident in early June 2019, a case was registered against a 17-year-old boy and his friend for allegedly assaulting a doctor at a hospital in Maharashtra after his father died during treatment. [21] Even earlier in April 2019, the administration of the Kaushal Sharma Hospital filed a police complaint against the relative of a patient who slapped a doctor. [21]

Origin of protests

Another of these incidents occurred on the night of 10 June 2019 after Mohammed Shaheed, a 75-year-old patient from Tangra, Calcutta, passed away at NRS Medical College. [2] Eleven relatives of the deceased were upset over the patient's death [9] and alleged that he died due to medical negligence. [2] [1] They claimed that the body of the deceased was not handed over to them on time. [2] [1] Staff at the hospital stated that the relatives also misbehaved with junior doctors. [9] Shortly after, a mob reached NRSMCH at around 11 pm (UTC+05:30) and fought with the junior doctors. [1] [2] The clashes turned the premises into a "battleground" at night and the morning after as doctors at the facility alleged that over 200 people arrived on trucks [4] to assault doctors and destroy hospital property. [2] Another account states that the people arrived in cars wearing helmets to attack doctors at the hospital. [7] Two intern doctors, Paribaha Mukhopadhyay and Yash Tekwani, [4] who were dealing with the protests by the deceased patient's relatives, were injured in the ensuing clashes. [2] Yash was admitted at NRSMCH [9] with Paribaha being admitted in an intensive care unit at the Institute of Neurosciences in Kolkata after they both suffered head injuries. [8] Paribaha suffered a deep dent in the frontal bone [4] as suggested by a CT scan image uploaded by doctors at the hospital. [5]

Protests

Day 1: 11 June 2019

On 11 June 2019, at least 50 intern doctors closed the gates of the NRSMCH to protest against the attack on the two junior doctors and demanded that the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, takes adequate action and provides security to doctors. [2] [3] [6] The doctors alleged that the police took no action after the two junior doctors were assaulted the previous night. [12] The West Bengal Doctors' Forum proposed to stop all work at the outpatient departments of all state-run hospitals in West Bengal from the next day. [6] A member of the forum also added that emergency services would remain active at all hospitals. [6]

Day 2: 12 June 2019

As protests entered the second day on 12 June 2019, patients across West Bengal were left without healthcare as junior doctors continued with the strike. On the same day, the agitation of intern doctors at the NRSMCH spilled over to all thirteen state-run hospitals and medical colleges in the city and at least six other district hospitals, [9] causing disruption of regular medical services. [2] [3] Affected hospitals included the Calcutta National Medical College Hospital, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, SSKM Hospital, R G Kar Hospital, and medical colleges in Murshidabad, Midnapore, North Bengal and Bankura. [9] All departments, including outpatient departments and pathological laboratories were shut down following the protests of the junior doctors. Protestors said that work will not resume at the hospitals until full protection is given to medical professionals. [1] [2] Contrary to statements by the Doctors' Forum, emergency wards in at least three state-run hospitals, NRSMCH, [4] SSKM Hospital [22] and Burdwan Medical College remained closed. [7]

Mediation

West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC) president and AITC MLA Nirmal Maji told Press Trust of India (PTI) that officials were trying to convince the doctors to resume work. [1] While the protestors requested direct intervention from the chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, only her deputy, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Minister of State for Health, visited NRSMCH. There were meetings between doctors and representatives of the state government. A spokesperson for the government stated that the Chief Minister was herself monitoring the situation. Mamata Banerjee's nephew, MP Abhishek Banerjee also appealed to the doctors to resume work. However, mediation was not successful and protests continued. [9]

Planned protests

Medical associations across the country threatened to strike on June 14 to protest over the rising violence against doctors, which is predicted to hit medical services across the country. [15] [23] All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Resident Doctors' Association declared a boycott on June 14 in line [15] with the directions of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) which directed all its state branches to stage protests and wear black badges on the day. [15] [23] The IMA asked state presidents and secretaries to organise demonstrations at their respective district collectors' officers between 10 am and 12 noon. [15] [23] The Delhi Medical Association (DMA) also called for a full medical strike on the day to protest against the assault of the doctors. [23] [15]

Day 3: 13 June 2019

As protests entered the third day on 13 June 2019, [11] all outpatient departments of government hospitals remained closed, [12] with only senior doctors manning emergency wards and outpatient departments at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata and Burdwan Medical College. [13] Despite the ultimatum, protests continued with junior doctors stating that the agitation will continue until their demands for security [16] and a public apology from the Chief Minister are met. [17] Resident doctors at the AIIMS in Delhi worked on 13 June with bandages on their heads as a symbolic protest. [23] [15]

Ultimatum

On 13 June 2019, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee issued an ultimatum to the doctors on strike to return to work within 4 hours [13] (by 2 pm local time). [12] She made the statement while visiting the state-run SSKM Hospital to talk to the junior doctors on strike. Speaking about the doctors, she said, "They are outsiders. The government will not support them in any way. I condemn doctors who have gone on strike. Policemen die in line of duty but the police don't go on a strike," [14] [12] [13] further adding that the strike will not be tolerated. [17]

Resignations

At late night, the principal and medical superintendent of NRSMCH, Professor Saibal Mukherjee and Professor Sourav Chatterjee stepped down from their positions. [24] They submitted their resignation via email to the state director of medical education. [24] [25]

Day 4: 14 June 2019

On June 14, 2019, the DMA organized a statewide medical strike in Delhi. [21] Resident doctors at AIIMS New Delhi and Safdarjung Hospital boycotted their work. [21] In Maharashtra, around 4,500 resident doctors suspended outpatient departments, wards and diagnostic services from 8 am to 5 pm. [21] Emergency services at either places were not hampered. [21] Doctors also staged a protest at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences in Hyderabad. [21] Protests in West Bengal went into the fourth day as outdoor facilities, emergency wards and pathological wards of many state-run hospitals remained closed. [21] [26] More than 700 doctors resigned from state-run hospitals, [26] with dozens of doctors from Darjeeling and Kolkata resigning to protest the violence against doctors. [21] [27]

Planned protests

The IMA called for a nation-wide strike on 17 June 2019. [21] [27] The association also stated that it will ask Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to bring a central law to prevent violence against doctors. [21]

Day 5: 15 June 2019

As protests entered 15 June 2019, the doctors were protesting for the fifth straight day. [27] The Federation of Resident Doctors' Association stated that 15 hospitals in Delhi held protests. [27] The AIIMS Resident Doctors' Association issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the West Bengal government. [27] Around 246 resignations were given by doctors working in various government hospitals in West Bengal. [28]

Aftermath

As of 14 June 2019, five people have been arrested in connection to the assault of the two junior doctors. [17] [29] [30] The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee stated that the bail prayers of the arrested were rejected. [30]

The incumbent Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee alleged that the protests are the result of a conspiracy between the Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). [31] [32] She stated that she held the BJP responsible and accused BJP party leader and Union Home Minister, Amit Shah of "creat[ing] confusion and communal tension in the state". [16] The state BJP chief, Dilip Ghosh then alleged that the Chief Minister is not taking action against the people who assaulted the doctors, because they are "her voters". [31]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Trinamool Congress</span> Political party in India

The All India Trinamool Congress is an Indian political party that is mainly influential in the state of West Bengal. It was founded by Mamata Banerjee on 1 January 1998 as a breakaway faction from the Indian National Congress and rapidly rose to prominence in the politics of West Bengal under her leadership. Presently, it is ruling the state of West Bengal beside being the third-largest party in India in terms of number of MPs and MLAs, just after BJP and INC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mamata Banerjee</span> Chief Minister of West Bengal, India since 2011

Mamata Banerjee is an Indian politician who is serving as the eighth and current chief minister of the Indian state of West Bengal since 20 May 2011, the first woman to hold the office. Having served multiple times as a Union Cabinet Minister, Mamata Banerjee became the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the first time in 2011. She founded the All India Trinamool Congress in 1998 after separating from the Indian National Congress, and became its second chairperson later in 2001. She is often referred to as 'Didi'.

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) is a registered unrecognized political party, that campaigns for the creation of a separate state Gorkhaland within India, out of districts in the north of West Bengal. The party was launched on 7 October 2007. The faction led by Binay Tamang, which was created out of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha in 2017, merged into Gurung's GJM in 2021 after Tamang's resignation, following which he joined Trinamool Congress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suvendu Adhikari</span> Indian politician

Suvendu Adhikari is an Indian politician from Bharatiya Janata Party who is the current Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly since 2021 and a member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly from Nandigram Assembly constituency since 2021 and from Contai South from 2006 to 2009. He previously served as the Minister of Transport from 2016 to 2020, Irrigation and Water resource from 2018 to 2020 in the Government of West Bengal. He was also a member of Lok Sabha from Tamluk from 2009 to 2016 and the chairperson of Jute Corporation of India from 2020 to 2021. He was a forner member of the Trinamool Congress from 1998 to 2020 and Indian National Congress from 1995 to 1998. He is the son of Sisir Adhikari, Member of Parliament and former Union Minister of State for Rural Development in the Manmohan Singh government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IPGMER and SSKM Hospital</span> Hospital and medical school in Kolkata, India

Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education and Research and Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital, colloquially known as P.G. Hospital, is a public medical college and hospital located in Kolkata, India. It is a national research institute.

Abhishek Banerjee, is the General Secretary of All India Trinamool Congress. He is a member of the Trinamool Congress and he is currently serving as a Member of Parliament, Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal since 2014. Banerjee has also been the President of Trinamool Youth Congress since 2011, the youth wing of the Trinamool Congress, currently in power in West Bengal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Partha Chatterjee (politician)</span> Minister of School Education of West Bengal

Partha Chatterjee is a jailed indicted Indian political criminal. He earlier served as the Minister of Commerce and Industries and formerly served as the Education Minister of Government of West Bengal. He represented the Trinamool Congress. He also held the political office of Secretary General of the All India Trinamool Congress. In 2022, he was arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in connection with the School Service Commission (SSC) scam in West Bengal, when massive stacks of cash were recovered from the house of one of his aides. He was then suspended from AITC and dismissed from the cabinet.

Subrata Mukherjee was an Indian politician who was cabinet minister of the government of West Bengal and sitting member of West Bengal Legislative Assembly. He was a member of All India Trinamool Congress. He was also the 35th Mayor of Kolkata from 2000 to 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Madan Mitra</span> Indian politician

Madan Mitra is an Indian politician, actor from West Bengal. Madan Mitra started his career with party Indian National Congress. He held many positions of Indian Youth Congress, the party's youth wing. In 1998, he joined All India Trinamool Congress party, founded by his colleague Mamata Banerjee, and his movie debut was in the 2023 Bengali film Oh! Lovely. In 2011, he was elected to the legislative assembly and became a state minister. He was arrested for the Sarada chit fund conspiracy case and got bail after 22 months.

Bangur Institute of Neurosciences, also known as the Bangur Institute of Neurology and abbreviated BIN, is a government-run apex superspeciality institute/hospital located at 52/1A, Sambhu Nath Pandit Street, Bhawanipur, Kolkata, West Bengal. The institute is adjacent to and functionally attached to IPGMER and SSKM Hospital. The institute is affiliated to the West Bengal University of Health Science.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dilip Ghosh (politician)</span> Indian Member of Parliament

Dilip Ghosh is an Indian politician from West Bengal. He is the incumbent Member of Parliament representing the Medinipur constituency in Lok Sabha. He also served as one of the national vice presidents of Bharatiya Janata Party from 2021 to 2023. He served as the 9th president of the West Bengal unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jagdeep Dhankhar</span> Vice President of India since 2022

Jagdeep Dhankhar is an Indian politician and lawyer. He has served as the Vice President of the Republic of India since 2022. He previously served as the Governor of West Bengal from 2019 to 2022. He also served as a Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs in the Chandra Shekhar ministry from 1990 to 1991. He was a member of Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991 and later a Member of Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from 1993 to 1998. He has also been affiliated with multiple political parties in India, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress and Janata Dal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election</span> Indian state election

The 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election for 292 of the 294 constituencies in West Bengal was held between 27 March to 29 April 2021 in eight phases. Voting for the two remaining constituencies was delayed to 30 September 2021.

No NRC movement was originated in West Bengal, after NRC Assam Draft List was published in 2018. It predated the anti-CAA protests and created the conditions for protests against the CAA to grow, especially in West Bengal. The NRC Assam Final Draft List, published on 30 July 2018, has excluded four million residents. The initial protests against NRC were organised by the Matua (Namashudra) community in West Bengal. On 1 August 2018, the members of the Matua community protested across the state, in places such as Dumdum, Sodepur, Titagarh, Palta, Halisahar, New Barrackpore, Madhyamgram, Barasat, Thakurnagar and Bhaybla in North 24 Parganas district and Chakdah, Bagula, Badkulla in Nadia district. They blocked the national highway-6 connecting Kolkata and Mumbai at Chandrapur in Howrah district. Sarva Bharatiya Namashudra Vikash Parishad promised to continue protests against NRC. They also blocked Railway traffic in various places in Bengal. Matua Mahasangha contended that NRC Assam would exclude millions of Matuas. The rail blockade by Matuas disrupted rail traffic in Sealdah division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">COVID-19 pandemic in West Bengal</span> Ongoing COVID-19 viral pandemic in West Bengal, India

The COVID-19 pandemic was first confirmed in the Indian state of West Bengal on 17 March 2020 in Kolkata. The Health and Family Welfare department of Government of West Bengal has confirmed a total of 13,43,442 COVID-19 positive cases, including 1,09,806 active cases, 15,120 deaths and 12,18,516 recoveries, as of 28 May 2021.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minakshi Mukherjee</span> Indian politician

Minakshi Mukherjee is an Indian politician from West Bengal. She is the state secretary of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). She previously was the state president of DYFI, the youth wing of CPIM. She was fielded as the Left Front candidate from Sanjukta Morcha against Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and BJP Leader Suvendu Adhikari in the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly Election from Nandigram, but lost to Suvendu Adhikari.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aishe Ghosh</span> Indian student activist (born 1995)

Aishe Ghosh is an Indian politician and student activist. She is the president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union and is a member of the Students' Federation of India. She was also the CPI(M) candidate from Jamuria constituency for 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and lost to Hareram Singh.

Violence occurred in the aftermath of the 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, which the ruling Trinamool Congress won for a third consecutive term.

The 2022 Birbhum violence, also called the Birbhum massacre, happened on March 21, 2022 in the village of Baktai in Rampurhat, Birbhum, India in the aftermath of the death of Trinamool deputy chief Bhadu Sheikh. At least four houses were set on fire. 10 people were reported killed.

West Bengal School Service Recruitment Scam is an ongoing education SSC scam in West Bengal, India since 2022. The scam is being currently investigated jointly by Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. The scam was revealed, following the arrest of Partha Chatterjee, a Trinamool Congress leader, who has served as the Minister of Education in the Mamata Banerjee's cabinet until his arrest on 23 July 2022.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Doctors in West Bengal Go on Strike After Colleague's Assault, Demand Full Protection". News18. News18. PTI. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 "How an intern doctor's fractured skull has Kolkata up in arms as BJP blames Trinamool". India Today. India Today. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  3. 1 2 3 Banerjie, Monideepa. "Bengal Doctors On Strike After Colleague Attacked For Alleged Negligence". NDTV.com. NDTV. NDTV. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "Calcutta doctors attacked, BJP leader blames a particular community". www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph. TT Bureau. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  5. 1 2 Basu, Kinsuk. "Protests erupt across state after assault on NRS doctors". www.telegraphindia.com. The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Junior doctors threaten strike in Bengal on Wednesday". Business Standard India. Business Standard. IANS. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  7. 1 2 3 "Kolkata doctor attack: Outdoor facility closed across Bengal, clashes reported from Bardhaman medical college | Latest News & Updates at DNAIndia.com". DNA India. DNA. DNA Web Team. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  8. 1 2 3 "Services hit at Bengal's state-run hospitals as doctors strike work after alleged assault on colleague". Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times. HT Correspondent. 11 June 2019. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 12 June 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Bhattacharya, Ravik; Kumari, Sweety (13 June 2019). "West Bengal political pot simmers as hospital protests spread". The Indian Express. The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  10. Kumari, Sweety (12 June 2019). "Doctors at Kolkata hospitals on strike after colleague assaulted by patient's relatives". The Indian Express. The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 12 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  11. 1 2 "Doctors' strike in West Bengal enters third day, Out Patient Departments in Siliguri hospitals to remain shut". Firstpost. Firstpost. Asian News International. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Varma, Shylaja. "Get Back To Work: Mamata Banerjee's 4-Hour Ultimatum to Striking Doctors". NDTV. NDTV. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  13. 1 2 3 4 "Get back to work, Mamata Banerjee sets a deadline for Bengal's striking doctors". Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times. HT Correspondent. 13 June 2019. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  14. 1 2 "'Return to Work or Vacate Hostels': Mamata Issues 4-Hour Ultimatum to Protesting Bengal Doctors". News18. News18. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "AIIMS resident doctors to boycott work on June 14". The Hindu. PTI. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  16. 1 2 3 Kundu, Indrajit. "It is Amit Shah: Mamata Banerjee blames BJP for communalising Kolkata doctors' strike | EXCLUSIVE". India Today. India Today. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Singh, Shiv Sahay (13 June 2019). "Junior doctors in Kolkata refuse to return to work, situation volatile". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  18. Perappadan, Bindu Shajan (2 July 2017). "Majority of doctors in India fear violence, says IMA survey". The Hindu. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  19. Scroll Staff (13 June 2019). "Four injured after mob attacks protesting doctors outside Burdwan hospital". Scroll.in. The Scroll. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  20. Anand, Tanu; Grover, Shekhar; Kumar, Rajesh; Kumar, Madhan; Ingle, Gopal Krishna (November 2016). "Workplace violence against resident doctors in a tertiary care hospital in Delhi". The National Medical Journal of India. 29 (6): 344–348. ISSN   0970-258X. PMID   28327484.
  21. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Shukla, Saurabh. "300 Doctors Quit In Bengal, Centre Blames Mamata Banerjee: 10 Points". NDTV. NDTV. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  22. Mandal, Sanjay. "Doctor's strike: Never seen emergency ward shut down, says physician". The Telegraph. The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharma, Neetu Chandra (13 June 2019). "Medical services across country to be hit as doctors threaten strike". Livemint. Livemint. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  24. 1 2 "West Bengal doctors' agitation: NRS Medical College principal and medical superintendent resign". Scroll.in. Scroll.in. Scroll Staff. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  25. "Kolkata doctors' strike: এনআরএস কাণ্ডে অধ্যক্ষ ও সুপারের ইস্তফা". Eisamay (in Bengali). Ei Samay. 13 June 2019. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  26. 1 2 Jun 15, TNN. "West Bengal doctors strike: Bengal healthcare in coma as over 700 doctors quit | India News - Times of India". The Times of India. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mamata Banerjee's Return To Work Appeal Turned Down By Doctors: 10 Points". NDTV. NDTV. Retrieved 15 June 2019.
  28. "200 more doctors quit as logjam continues - Times of India".
  29. Chattopadhyay, Suhrid Sankar (12 June 2019). "Doctors on strike in Bengal, health services hit badly". Frontline. Retrieved 2019-06-14.
  30. 1 2 "Kolkata doctors' strike: Mamata Banerjee writes fresh letter to doctors, assures necessary action". India Today. India Today. Retrieved 14 June 2019.
  31. 1 2 Sanyal, Anindita. "Mamata Banerjee Versus BJP Plays Out In Bengal Doctors' Strike". NDTV. NDTV. Archived from the original on 13 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2019.
  32. "Mamata calls doctors' strike BJP, CPI(M) conspiracy, issues ultimatum". The Week. Archived from the original on 2019-06-14. Retrieved 2019-06-14.