SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Feb 27: All types of health services in the state would be shut down on Wednesday for action against assaulters of medical college teachers and doctors.
The seven bodies, i.e., the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA) of government doctors, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Teachers Associations of six medical colleges, the Jharkhand Junior Doctors Association, the Jharkhand Chemists and Druggists Association, and the Chamber of Commerce will observe a token boycott of their services on March 1.
The token boycott decision was taken at a joint meeting of JHSA and IMA held at Ranchi on Sunday evening.
Since the government neither initiated any action against doctors’ assaulters in 72 hours nor took any steps for implementation of the Medical Protection Act (MPA) and the amendment to the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA). JHSA and IMA were compelled to call a token boycott.
“If demands are not implemented even after Token Boycott on March 1, doctors would go for an indefinite boycott of services. Government and its health department would be responsible,” said JHSA and IMA.
JHSA president Dr PP Sah, secretary Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh and IMA secretary Pradip Kumar Singh after the meeting said that medicos bodies have been compelled to take a drastic step as six doctors have been assaulted but no action has been taken against assaulters.
IMA state coordinator Dr Ajay Kumar Singh, IMA Ranchi secretary Dr Sudhir Kumar, and Dr Bimlesh Kumar Singh also addressed the meeting.
“The civil surgeon and the deputy superintendent of Garhwa district were manhandled by representatives of the ruling party. The DDC of Hazaribag insulted, abused and misbehaved with Dr Vishal of Sheikh Bhikari Medical College. Jamtara MLA asked his supporters to bring the civil surgeon dragging. Dr Ajay Choudhary in Bokaro was brutally attacked and injured following the death of a road accident victim. In Lohardagga’s private nursing home, the operator was threatened to kill. FIR was lodged but no action was taken. All these incidents were nothing but blatant hooliganism,” said JHSA and IMA officials.
Dr Thakur and Dr Singh said JHSA and IMA had on February 13 sent a joint memorandum to the chief minister through the deputy commissioner of all 24 districts for implementing MPA and amendment in ECA.
“Unfortunately, the chief minister did not call for talk over these burning issues which have badly crippled health services in Jharkhand. However, we again request the chief minister to get both the issues cleared in the assembly session starting from February 27 for streamlining health services,” said the JHSA and IMA secretary.
They regretted that the biometric attendance of doctors has emerged major issue. JHSA and IMA have submitted a memorandum to the health minister and additional chief health secretary.
“IMA and JHSA urge them not to tag biometric attendance with salary payment and monitoring authority should be given to competent officers,” said Dr Singh and Dr Thakur.
