Kolkata: The health department has revoked the transfer of 42 doctors cutting across several govt hospitals 24 hours after the order was issued. Sources said the order recall followed an intervention of the CM.
There has been allegations that the transfer was targeted at faculty members who had openly protested against the rape and murder of the PGT doctor.
In the biggest reshuffle in the health department in recent times, it issued transfer order of 42 doctors on Friday evening. Murmurs began right after the order was issued with many claiming that it was a witch hunt for expressing solidarity with the protesting junior doctors.
A protest began at Medical College Hospital Kolkata on Saturday when students kept its officials under gherao against the transfer order of three faculty members.
Similar protests were held in other hospitals. By evening, the health department decided to revoke the order for the time being.
While announcing the revocation of the transfer order, principal health secretary Narayan Swaroop Nigam clarified that there was no other reason behind the transfers, stating that it was a routine procedure which was decided two months ago.
The health secretary said doctors were currently providing services in various hospitals and transferring them might disrupt these services when senior faculty members are filling up the void left by the protesting juniors.
Sources said CM Mamata Banerjee had asked for the revocation of the order.