Kolkata, June 16: Junior doctors in West Bengal who have been on strike since last six days set a precondition for talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to resolve the stalemate that has crippled healthcare services across the state. After a meeting on Sunday, the striking doctors said they are ready for talks but added that it should happen before the media. The West Bengal government is yet to respond.

"We want an immediate end to this impasse by a discussion with the CM, which, to maintain transparency, shouldn't be behind closed doors, but open to media under camera coverage," a representative of the protesting doctors told reporters. Junior doctors went on a strike after two of their colleagues were allegedly beaten up by the kin of a 75-year-old patient who died, allegedly of medical negligence, at NRS Hospital late on Monday night.

On Friday night, the striking doctors rejected Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's proposal for talks at the state Secretariat, instead asking her to come down to NRS Hospital. On Saturday, the West Bengal government again invited the protesting doctors for talks. Banerjee also appealed to the striking doctors to immediately resume medical services and assured that the state government is ready to accept all their "legitimate demands".

However, the doctors rejected Banerjee's olive branch and stuck to their demand that she would have to come down to the NRS Medical College and Hospital to listen to their demands. After the doctors turned down the government's invitation, the chief minister cancelled her meeting with Dr Paribaha Mukhopadhyay who was injured in Monday's attack.

Meanwhile, healthcare services remained partially disrupted as the doctors strike entered its sixth day on Sunday. The out-patient departments remained closed. The emergency services, however, functioned normally.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 16, 2019 05:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).