RAJ KUMAR
Ranchi, Aug.11: Health Minister Banna Gupta today expressed his commitment for safety and security of doctors in the state while felicitating as many as 45 Corona Warrior ophthalmologists from the state, who worked beyond the call of duty to ensure help to distressed people and families infected by novel corona virus over the past one year. The programme was organized by the Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society
He said that Medical Protection Act will be enacted soon in the state to ensure proper security to doctors and discussion on the matter is going on in the higher-level meeting.
“The issue has been raised in the State Assembly. We have been studying the existing laws of four states to implement similar laws in our state. I have had a discussion with the additional chief secretary (Health) on the issue. And, I assure the doctors of the state that we will soon bring Medical protection Act in the State with certain amendments (from that of other States),” health minister Gupta said.
The Health Minister further said: “Doctors are believed as the second incarnation of God. When we entrust our bodies to doctors, we consider them as God. I believe that I am a colleague of the doctors. We all have to respect and help the doctors discharge their duties. Any attack on doctors is an attack on the prestige and glory of the State, which will not be pardoned.”
Praising the doctors for their work during the second wave of Covid-19, the minister said, “I also got the opportunity to wear PPE kits for 2-3 times during the second wave of Covid-19. Within half an hour after wearing it I could sense how difficult it is to perform the job of a doctor wearing PPE kits for hours and days. Doctors of the State have done amazing work during the Covid-19 second wave. They discharged their duties with diligence putting their lives at risk.”
“It is the good work of doctors and their coordination with the government that the state could beat Covid-19 during the second wave, for which the state has been hailed by one and all. And, I am sure with the help and coordination of you all, we will be able to stop the third wave in the State,” the minister added.
The commitment was expressed after the secretary of Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society, Dr Bharti Kashyap, pleaded for setting up fast track courts to punish all those found guilty of assaults on doctors and hospitals, to ensure speedy justice.
Bharti’s pleading came before she praised the Ophthalmologist corona warriors for their exemplary services by saying that brave ophthalmologists, abandoned their comfort zones, transcended professional boundaries and put their own lives at risk, to ensure that people in distress got all the necessary help to fight the second Corona wave.
“Even at the height of the pandemic, there were many cases of assaults and violence against doctors and medical personnel, even women health care professionals were not spared, though these brave hearts took everything in their stride to provide relief to covid infected patients and their families. I urge the state government to ensure the security of all doctors, health care professionals and institutions and introduce a Medical Protection Act in Jharkhand to protect doctors and institutions from assaults,” Dr. Kashyap said praising the ophthalmologist corona warriors.
Those felicitated on the occasion included Dr Nagendra Pandit, Dr Bharat Singh, Dr Priyanka Priydarshi, Dr Ashima N R Tigga, Dr PreetishPronoy, Dr Sarwar Alam, Dr Smita Anand, Dr Tanisha Ojha, Dr. Pinki Pal, Dr. Neha Shilpy, Dr. Sarojini Murmu, Dr. Bibha Kumari, Dr. Kumari Reena Singh, Dr. Vivek Kumar, Dr Shilpa Sanjeeta Singh, Dr. Shakti Nath Singh, Dr. Pallavi Purnima Singh, Dr. Ashitha A.S., Dr. Payal Mukherji, Dr. Jaiprakash Narolia, Dr. Mrinal Singh, Dr. Dhirendra Kumar, Dr. Seema Singh, Dr. Deepti Tiwari, Dr. Suchitra Kumari, Dr. Vijaylaxmi Meena, Dr. Rupa Epil, Dr. Shefa Habib, Dr. Taruni Kumari, Dr. Shiril Sandeep Sawaiyan, Dr. Antabha Bandyopadhyay, Dr. Aanchal Priya, Dr. Md Raghib Tauheed, Dr. Anupama Sharma, Dr. Shubham Harsh, Dr. Abhishek Kr. Sinha, Dr. Archana Sinha, Dr Mayuri Bhattacharjee, Dr Rajni Kujur, Dr. Samrin Sarwar, Dr. Shazia Tabassum, Dr. Shilpa Hembrom, Dr. Suman, Dr. Pallavi Sinha.
The state health minister presented shawls and mementos to the next of kin of Dr.Krishna Murari Sahu, Dr.Sujit Kumar Paul and Dr.Chandrika Kishore Thakur, all eminent doctors of the state, who had fallen victim to the Corona pandemic.
Gold medals were conferred upon Dr.Bibhuti Kashyap, for the Dr.V.S.Gupta Best Free Paper and Dr.Rahul Prasad for the Manjul Pant Best Video Session at the virtual conference of Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society organised in 2020 . Dr.Lalit Jain was felicitated for his Extramural Oration at the annual conference. The Health Minister also presented a shawl and memento to Dr.Halimuddin, the outgoing president, Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society.
Those present on the occasion included Dr.Pradip Kumar Singh, secretary, IMA, Jharkhand, Dr.B.P.Kashyap, treasurer, Dr.Rajiv Gupta, head of department, Ophthalmology, RIMS and Dr.Shambhu Singh, president, IMA, Ranchi.
