Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare expresses shock and sorrow at grievous assault on junior doctors in West Bengal

Ludhiana, June 15, 2019: The Alliance of Doctors for Ethical Healthcare (ADEH) expressed shock and sorrow at the grievous assault on junior doctors, Dr Paribaha Mukherjee and Dr Yash Tekwani in NRS Medical Hospital in West Bengal on 11th June 2019. “We condemn, in the strongest terms, the escalation of the violence and attempts at intimidation that have ensued in West Bengal in the aftermath of the protests by junior doctors in the past 48 hours”, said ADEH. Further, ADEH said, “ We appeal to the West Bengal government to act speedily to acknowledge the concerns of the junior doctors, to take stern action against the perpetrators of this heinous crime and take measures to provide a safe working environment for all doctors to enable them to carry out their duties without apprehension or fear.” ADEH added, “We also call on the media, the public and government officials to refrain from using language designed to stoke anger or polarize communities, especially on social media at such a sensitive time.” ADEH said, in wake of the increasing violence against doctors across the country, we also urge the government to acknowledge the gravity of this crisis and take proactive and comprehensive steps to ensure the safety of the medical community. Along with enacting legislation for prevention of violence to healthcare professionals and institutions, the government should also focus on long- term investment in medical infrastructure, human resources and system reforms that ensure transparency in treatment, billing and effective grievance redressal mechanisms. These actions will go a long way in mitigating the deficit in the doctor patient relationship. Adding, ADEH said, “Today and always, we stand in solidarity with our medical fraternity in the demand for justice and safe and improved working conditions for all doctors across the country.”