SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, May 6: All 4,000 private nursing homes, and clinics of Jharkhand may shut down from May 9 if the state government fails to redress Dhanbad’s extortion demand issue.
Jharkhand Private Hospital Board (Association) chairman cum Indian Medical Association (IMA) state vice-president Dr RS Das on Friday said that the state body has extended full support to the agitation of Dhanbad doctors and would follow the agitation they adopt.
Dhanbad IMA chapter has served notice to the Deputy Commissioner, Senior Superintendent of Police, Civil Surgeon and Health Minister Banna Gupta about the indefinite closure of private nursing homes and clinics in the district from May 9 if the criminals, who demanded Rs 1 crore from Suyash Clinic owner Dr Samir Kumar, are not arrested.
“Hospital Board has made it clear that whatever Dhanbad unit would do, the state unit will follow the agitation. If Dhanbad shuts down the nursing homes and clinics, all private health centres across the state would follow that from May 9,” said Dr RS Das.
The state Private Hospital Association chairman further added that now the ball is in the court of the government. If the problem of Dhanbad doctors is not redressed, the whole state would protest.
Dr Das, who is also the IMA state vice-president of state headquarters (Ranchi), observed that the condition of doctors and their health service centres has become critical following frequent attacks and extortion demands. If the solution does not come from agitation organizations of nursing homes and doctors would move to court for safety and security.
“State IMA and Private Hospitals Board both are monitoring the situation and would do whatever required for doctors and hospitals,” said Dr Das.
Dhanbad IMA secretary Dr Sushil Kumar was attacked by bike-borne criminals on April 28. Even after one week, no one has been arrested. Five days later Suyash Clinic owner Dr Samir Kumar received extortion demands and life threats to his family on May 3 in the name of dreaded criminal Aman Singh who is presently lodged in Dhanbad Jail.
