SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Oct 30: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has sought an immediate intervention from the Jharkhand Chief Minister on the renewal of nursing homes’ registration which has hit health services to patients across the state.
The IMA has shot off a memorandum to him saying that the registration of nursing homes and private clinics is pending due to impractical clauses of the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA). Due to a lack of registration, they are facing closure and it will hit health service.
Private health centres are being tortured by government authorities in the name of bio-medical waste and fire safety norms under CEA.
The IMA has also urged the Chief Minister to check the frequent transfer of Civil Surgeons which has affected health programmes in the state.
IMA state president Dr AK Singh and secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Singh in the memorandum have pointed out that due to the absence of private health centres poor patients are falling into the trap of quacks and losing their lives.
“Kindly direct the Deputy Commissioners (DC) of all 24 districts for immediate action on quacks so that the lives of poor patients could be protected from such elements,” said the president and the secretary.
The IMA has requested the Chief Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) of Health for immediate amendment in the present shape of CEA, making it practical and implementing it for streamlining health services in the state.
“Doctors of the state are surprised that when over 23 states have implemented it, what is the problem for the Jharkhand government? Due to the lack of practical amendment in the CEA, rural and private health centres as well as patients are most affected,” said Dr Pradip Kumar Singh.
The IMA has shot off the memorandum to the Chief Minister after a meeting of doctors across the state held at the IMA building in Ranchi. The doctors expressed their concern over increasing violence on medicos and sabotaging of health centres/ nursing homes.
“We had high hopes from the government but we got only blank assurances. Onslaughts on medicos have continued and have triggered resentment among doctors across the state. That is why doctors do not come to Jharkhand despite hefty offers of perks and high promotions,” said the IMA office bearers.
The IMA, in the memorandum, has pointed out that implementation of the Medical Protection Act (MPA) and amendment in the CEA have been pending before the state government for years. Several meetings of the IMA with the Health Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary of Health have been held. A common draft, on which all stakeholders agreed, was passed. The government was requested to implement MPA and CEA but those are still pending.
