Two years after doctor’s rape-murder, a long night at Kolkata hospital

Two years after the rape and murder of a 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the institution has undergone significant changes, particularly in security. Yet, an Indian Express report examining a night shift at the hospital found that several concerns raised after the incident remain unresolved.

The old Emergency building, where the doctor was found dead in August 2024, remains a restricted area. Emergency services have since moved to the Trauma Care Centre, where activity continues through the night as doctors, nurses, patients and attendants move across the campus.

Security has been substantially strengthened. Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel have been deployed around the clock, with security staff stationed at key locations across the campus. According to the report, more than 800 working CCTV cameras now cover almost the entire hospital campus and are monitored from a central control room.

Doctors and other hospital workers said the increased security has made them feel safer during night shifts. Security personnel patrol the campus, monitor entry points and conduct regular rounds during the night.

However, the report also highlights concerns that go beyond security. Doctors continue to face a shortage of dedicated rest areas and adequate washrooms, particularly for women medical professionals.

Resident doctors frequently work 24- or 48-hour shifts. In the absence of dedicated on-call rooms, some doctors are forced to rest on vacant hospital beds, makeshift couches or other shared spaces.

Medical staff also pointed to inadequate washroom facilities. In some departments, doctors have limited access to toilets during long shifts, while patients, doctors and other workers may have to share facilities.

A postgraduate trainee said that women doctors working long shifts sometimes have to walk several minutes back to their hostel to use a washroom. Some doctors also said they avoid drinking water during duty because of the difficulty of accessing suitable facilities.

The hospital had committed during Supreme Court proceedings to creating separate, biometric-secured resting spaces for male and female doctors. However, according to the report, dedicated resting facilities have not been fully implemented across departments.

Doctors also continue to face heavy patient loads. RG Kar’s outpatient department reportedly receives around 4,500 to 6,000 patients a day, while inpatient bed occupancy remains around 1,500.

The closure of the old Emergency building has also placed additional pressure on the Trauma Care Centre. Doctors said the combined emergency workload is now concentrated in a smaller area.

A senior administrative official said the Emergency department handles at least 150 patients a day and highlighted the shortage of adequate washrooms for bedridden patients.

The report also describes the experience of healthcare workers during the night. Doctors continue to handle demanding shifts, while security personnel remain stationed throughout the campus.

At around midnight, a young patient’s family member asked a woman CISF officer for directions to a pharmacy. The officer accompanied her through a deserted section of the hospital campus, illustrating how security personnel have become a visible part of everyday life at RG Kar.

Despite the changes, some doctors remain concerned that security measures alone cannot address all the problems exposed after the 2024 incident. They continue to seek safer working environments, proper rest facilities, adequate washrooms and improvements in overall hospital infrastructure.

The RG Kar incident had triggered widespread protests by junior doctors and became a major issue in West Bengal. Two years later, the hospital has stronger security and surveillance, but the experiences of doctors and patients indicate that several of the structural concerns raised after the tragedy remain.