New Delhi:

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), the premier doctors’ association, today suspended its nationwide closure of elective services in hospitals in solidarity with the ongoing protests by medical professionals in West Bengal after the state government called a meeting to discuss their demands.

“We will closely examine the outcome of this meeting to ensure that it meets the demands of the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front (WBJDF). If the meeting does not produce satisfactory results, we will proceed with a full boycott from October 15,” said FAIMA, which yesterday called for a nationwide strike on Monday.

“The emergency services remain unaffected in order to fulfill our commitment to urgent patient care,” it said.

West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has invited representatives of important medical associations to a meeting on Monday at the state health department headquarters Swasthya Bhawan to discuss their demands.

In an email, Mr Pant also called on the Joint Platform of Doctors (JPD) to “advise” the young doctors to end their hunger strike in the interest of their health and well-being.

Since October 5, young doctors in West Bengal have been fasting unto death, demanding justice for the 31-year-old doctor who was raped and murdered at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata on August 9. Her fast followed almost 50 days of “break from work” in two phases.

Their other demands include setting up a centralized referral system for all hospitals and medical colleges in the state, introducing a vacant bed monitoring system and forming task forces to ensure necessary provision of CCTV, on-call rooms and washrooms at their workplaces.

So far, three doctors have been hospitalized after their health deteriorated due to fasting.

“After extensive discussions, we unanimously decided that it is time to unite at the national level. We had given an ultimatum to the West Bengal Chief Minister in an earlier letter for escalation, but no satisfactory action was taken to compel us to do so.” Request all RDAs (Resident Doctors’ Associations) and medical associations across the country to agree to our demand following a closure of elective services across the country from Monday,” FAIMA had said on Sunday.

“This is not a decision we made lightly. We recognize the impact this has on the general public and it pains us to consider measures that could cause them distress. But our voices have been ignored, our safety compromised and “Our appeals have long been dismissed by the government,” said a letter to the National Medical Associations, the State Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs) and the Resident Doctors’ Associations (RDAs ) of various medical colleges and institutes

“We cannot afford to lose another colleague to violence or neglect. The government’s apathy has left us with no other choice. With heavy hearts but steadfast resolve, we request all RDAs to convene general body meetings immediately and urge you to do so. “Join us in solidarity with the West Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front,” it added.