SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, March 27: The private doctors of Jharkhand today observed ‘Black Day’ on the call from the national body of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), by wearing black badges on duty in protest against the Right to Health Bill of the Rajasthan government.
IMA State President Dr AK Singh and Secretary Dr Pradip Kumar Singh said that all doctors in the state are wearing black badges to show solidarity with the IMA national body as well as agitating medicos of Rajasthan over the nationwide protest on the Bill.
In this regard, the IMA State President and the Secretary on Sunday evening informed all 24 district chapters of the IMA to inform the members (doctors) and ensure a ‘Black Day’ protest.
The Rajasthan government passed the Right to Health Bill on March 21 which gives every resident of the state of Rajasthan the right to emergency treatment care free of cost at any public health institution and health care centres including consultant drugs, diagnostic and emergency transportation.
IMA National President Dr Sharad Kumar Agrawal and secretary general Dr Anil Kumar J Nayak have directed all the state branches of IMA to observe ‘ Black Day’ on March 27 in protest against the Right to Health Bill of Rajasthan and submit a memorandum for Union and Rajasthan governments.
“ This is not an agitation albeit it is an awakening call for doctors of the state to express solidarity with the medicos’ community,” said Dr Ajay Kumar Singh. He further added that private health centres would be completely paralyzed if this Bill is implemented.
State IMA women’s wing president Dr Bharti Kashyap said that all women doctors of the state are with the call of the national IMA body and will follow whatever next directive comes in this regard.
Newly elected Ranchi district IMA President Dr Shekhar Choudhary Kajal said doctors in the state capital have begun a symbolic protest as per the directive of the national body.
Jamshedpur IMA Secretary Dr Saurabh Choudhary and Deoghar Secretary Dr Gaurishankar said that medicos in their respective region are observing ‘Black Day’ wearing black badges as per the call from the state IMA.
