SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Nov.6: The private nursing homes and clinics of Dhanbad have deferred their proposed indefinite strike that was scheduled from tomorrow, after getting assurance from Deputy Commissioner (DC) Sandip Singh.
The decision was taken after a delegation of private hospitals and clinics under the Indian Medical Association (IMA) met the DC over the closure of a private nursing home and suspension of the practicing license of a senior doctor.
IMA Dhanbad chapter President, Dr. Major Chandan said that the DC agreed with the demands of the delegation and assured justice after completion of the case hearing in the DC court. Both the nursing homeowners and the suspended doctor are scheduled to appear in the DC court on November 18.
The State health department recommended suspension of the practicing license of a senior doctor, Dr. D Chakravorty and closure of Chakravorty Nursing Home over alleged medical negligence when a Bokaro district’s patient after getting treatment in the nursing home finally died at a hospital in Ranchi.
In protest, private hospitals and health clinics of Dhanbad under IMA had announced to put down their shutters for an indefinite period from November 7.
There are registered 382 private nursing homes and clinics in Dhanbad.
“If the government believes that the doctor committed medical negligence in the treatment of the patient, it should initiate action against the doctor, not the nursing home. Closure of this nursing home has rendered 25 health staff jobless,” said IMA president Dr Chandan.
Dr. Chandan further said that on one side, the government is giving labs, health staff and security of the hospital to private players, while on the other side; it is taking action on private nursing homes in the name of Clinical Establishment Act violation.
IMA state chapter’s official sources said that the government has taken similar punitive action against private hospitals in Ranchi and Jamshedpur on a large scale. So, IMA would hold a meeting soon to combat such a crisis created by the government.
