Kolkata: A day before West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s
scheduled meeting with healthcare professionals, a coalition of doctors,
including the Joint Platform of Doctors and Abhaya Mancha, submitted a letter
demanding urgent reforms in the state’s healthcare system. The letter
highlighted significant deficiencies, citing corruption, staff shortages, and
political interference as major concerns.Also Read:RG Kar Victim’s Parents Yet To Receive Death CertificateThe letter, sent ahead of Banerjee’s planned meeting at
the Dhanadhanya Auditorium in Kolkata, called for urgent infrastructure
improvements, merit-based decision-making, and an end to bureaucratic control
over medical institutions. Citing RTI data, the doctors pointed out that nearly
40% of doctor positions and 70% of paramedical and support staff positions
remain vacant based on outdated 1991 workforce estimates. This severe shortage
has made it increasingly difficult to maintain healthcare services and meet
rising demands, particularly in state-run hospitals and medical colleges, reports The Indian Express.

“We still believe that if transparent and rational
administrative decisions are made without delay, it is certainly possible to
restore the lost dignity of the healthcare system through permanent, scientific
reforms and restructuring,” the letter stated.

The brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s
RG Kar Medical College and Hospital last year underscored deep-rooted issues in
the system, further intensifying calls for reform. The doctors accused key
regulatory bodies, such as the West Bengal Medical Council, the State Health
University, and the Health Recruitment Board, of fostering an autocratic and
oppressive environment that stifles ethical governance and transparency, reports the Daily.Also Read:Death of 16-month-old baby at Ballari Hospital sparks allegations of medical negligenceThe situation is particularly dire in medical education
institutions, where staffing fails to meet National Medical Council standards.
The letter also criticized the government’s handling of doctors’ working hours
and the ongoing “practice/non-practice” debate, arguing that medical services
cannot be equated with routine bureaucratic jobs. Instead, they urged the
administration to address the root causes of the crisis and implement
sustainable reforms.

Recruitment in the healthcare sector has been stalled for
years, with delays attributed to the OBC reservation case. The doctors argued
that if the government had the will, appointments could have been made within
the legal framework. The ongoing staffing crisis has placed excessive pressure
on existing medical professionals, leading to widespread burnout and
frustration. “Furthermore, an immediate action plan for mental health
support for overburdened medical professionals is essential. The failure to
address these issues will jeopardise millions of lives and erode public trust,” reads the letter.