Striking doctors, Mamata meet likely in media presence today

The Chief Minister is learnt to have agreed to a meeting on Monday at an auditorium adjacent to the State Secretariat. “The CM has agreed for the meeting tomorrow. We have invited two representatives from each medical college and hospital,” a state government source said. Banerjee, however, is not “comfortable” with their proposal of media presence inside the meeting venue, he said. Talking to reporters after a two-and-half-hour-long meeting on Sunday of its governing body, a spokesperson of the joint forum of junior doctors said, “We are keen to end this impasse. We are ready to hold talks with the chief minister at a venue of her choice, provided it is held in the open, in the presence of media persons, and not behind closed doors.” Healthcare services at several government and private hospitals in Delhi are likely to take a hit on Monday as scores of doctors have decided to boycott work for a day in support of their striking colleagues in WB.

Routine medical services across Tamil Nadu are likely to be affected as more than one lakh doctors will be joining the nation-wide strike to demand the Centre to bring a new law to protect the doctors. IMA TN president Dr Danakasabapathy said during the 24-hour strike, which begins at 6 am, doctors will attend only to emergency cases.