SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Aug 5: Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA), the frontal organization of government doctors, has called an emergency general body meeting in Ranchi on August 7 (Sunday) to decide on the government order on service to patients in private hospitals.
JHSA state coordinator Dr Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh has convened the emergency meeting, requesting the president/secretary of all 24 district units of JHSA to ensure their participation on a mandatory basis, so that the course of agitation against the government order could be finalized.
The JHSA has called this meeting in wake of the Jharkhand Arogya Society circular (August 2) in which medical officers (state government doctors) have been directed to give an undertaking that they would attend only OPD patients in private hospitals/nursing homes after duty hour. The medical officer would also neither admit the patient nor attend him in the indoor ward of a private hospital/ nursing home.
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As per the notification issued by senior consultant Sweta Kumara of Jharkhand Arogya Society, the government doctors, who have a legal permission for private practice, would have to give an undertaking on five points for attending patients in private hospitals/nursing homes.
“Government has issued a draconian order for medical officers regarding private practice. So, ensure your attendance at the meeting on August 7 at Ranchi IMA Building. There should be representation from every district. President/ secretary/ any representative from every district unit is requested to attend it,” said Dr Thakur, the JHSA convener.
JHSA state secretary Dr Bimlesh Kumar Singh said that at the meeting, the doctors would explore all possibilities including legal battle.
A senior doctor (medical officer) of Ranchi said that by issuing such draconian order, the state government is forcing the doctors to agitate or resign.
“The state is facing an acute shortage of doctors to cater to the requirement of patients. The government has issued this order without consulting and mulling with all stakeholders. Such a step would be suicidal for health services,” the doctor said.
“What would a radiologist do in the OPD if he would not be allowed to conduct an ultrasound at the diagnostic centre and testing in labs,” he added.
“Sometimes, an emergency case appears which requires immediate treatment. There is no time to refer. In such a condition, the medical officer can’t ignore his responsibility to save a patient’s life while sitting in the OPD of a private hospital. So, we are exploring all possibilities to combat this draconian order so that patients of the state do not suffer,” said the doctor.
