Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to Hold Crucial Meeting with Doctors Amid Healthcare Concerns

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, February 23, 2025, Kolkata :  Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to hold a significant meeting with doctors from government and private hospitals in the state on Monday. The meeting gains importance in the wake of the Ajikar scandal, sparking speculation across various quarters regarding the discussions at Dhandhanya Sabhagriha. Informed circles are questioning whether issues concerning the state's medical infrastructure will be addressed, while a large section of doctors anticipate discussions on complaints about intimidation practices in medical colleges.

The Grievance and Redressal Committee of the state health department has conducted extensive visits across districts, engaging with doctors associated with medical colleges and district health departments. These discussions have surfaced numerous complaints regarding shortages of resources and medical staff. While some of these concerns have been addressed at the college, district health organization, and chief health officer levels, several systemic issues persist and have been forwarded to the Chief Minister for resolution.

The committee has engaged with doctors from the State Health Service, 24 government and two medical colleges, ESI hospitals, and Kolkata Municipality health facilities. Additionally, discussions have been held with doctors from select private hospitals. The committee has received complaints regarding inadequate infrastructure in district medical colleges, lack of transparency in the posting of doctors, and disruptions in services due to insufficient staffing and equipment. Students and doctors from multiple institutions have also raised concerns about hostel mismanagement, inadequate playgrounds, and substandard toilet facilities. Most of these complaints and recommendations have been formally relayed to the Chief Minister for review.

Committee Chairman Dr. Saurabh Dutta stated that while discussions on institutional concerns have been extensive, the details of what was communicated to the Chief Minister remain confidential and will be disclosed only at her discretion.

Ahead of the meeting, the West Bengal Joint Platform of Doctors has submitted a letter to the Chief Minister highlighting critical vacancies in the healthcare system. The letter points out that approximately 40 percent of doctor positions and nearly 70 percent of support staff posts, including Karmabandhu roles, remain unfilled. Notably, no medical organization has been invited to this crucial meeting between the Chief Minister and representatives from government and private hospitals. The meeting’s outcome is expected to have a significant impact on the state's healthcare landscape as the government seeks to address mounting concerns ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.