In a powerful display of solidarity, 50 senior faculty members at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have resigned in support of protesting junior doctors. This unprecedented action comes in the wake of a tragic incident involving the rape and murder of a trainee doctor, which has ignited widespread outrage and demands for reform within the healthcare system.

Visuals shared on social media captured the moment when students erupted in applause as the senior doctors submitted their resignations. The junior doctors have been on a hunger strike since Saturday, calling for justice for their colleague and addressing systemic issues such as alleged corruption, demands for campus democracy, and the need for a patient-friendly healthcare environment.

Their list of demands includes:

• Establishing a centralized referral system for hospitals and medical colleges.
• Implementing a bed vacancy monitoring system.
• Forming task forces to ensure essential facilities like CCTV, on-call rooms, and clean washrooms.
• Increasing police protection in hospitals and hiring permanent female police personnel.
• Swiftly filling vacant positions for doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff.

The mass resignations were prompted by a lack of response from authorities to address these urgent issues, with senior doctors stating, "There has been no response from the appropriate authority to solve and to save our children from impending health disaster."

Earlier, around 15 senior doctors joined their junior counterparts in a symbolic hunger strike, amplifying the protest's visibility. The agitation has taken place during the Durga Puja festivities, a time usually marked by celebration, which has been overshadowed by this heinous incident.

In response to the protests, West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant urged the doctors to return to work, stating that 90% of ongoing projects at medical colleges would be completed soon. He emphasized the government's commitment to improving conditions and creating a safer environment for medical staff.

The junior doctors initially protested following the tragic murder of their fellow medic, who was found dead during her duty hours on August 9. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has charged Sanjoy Roy, a former contractual staff member with Kolkata Police, with the crime. The doctors ended a 42-day strike on September 21 after receiving assurances from the state government but renewed their protest on October 1 after an attack on medics by a patient's family.

As the situation unfolds, the call for justice and reform in the healthcare system remains at the forefront of the discourse in Kolkata, highlighting the ongoing struggle for safety and dignity among medical professionals.