Jamshedpur doctors observe strike demanding security

Jamshedpur, March 1: Under the banner of Indian Medical Association, over 700 doctors of various government and private hospitals in Jamshedpur today observed strike demanding implementation of the Medical Protection Act in the state. Doctors of all city-based hospitals stayed away from work. However, the emergency services in all hospitals remained operational.

Government doctors assembled at the MGM Medical College and Hospital in Sakchi where they took out a protest rally demanding immediate implementation of the Medical Protection Act.The strike led to the woes of patients  as many were deprived of treatment for their various ailments

A senior doctor participating in the strike said that of late many such cases have come to the fore, where the family members of the patient manhandled and assaulted doctors.  According to him, due to the non-implementation of the act, many doctors are afraid to treat patients.

Notably, the Medical Protection Act has been implemented in several states. In those states, the referral rate is also low because doctors treat patients without referring to them.

“Medical Protection Act is the need of the hour as it is implemented in 18 states of the country. But in Jharkhand we have only been receiving assurance from the state. This has forced the IMA state unit to decide for closing down OPDs as otherwise we are not feeling secure in discharging our duties. We will chalk out the future course of our agitation depending on the government decision,” noted an official.

The IMA senior functionary also threatened that if the government does not relent after the strike then they would tender mass resignation. Incidentally, doctors are demanding fixing of duty hours as they claim that at times they have to work for more than 12 hours at a stretch.

IMA’s Jamshedpur officials after demonstration for a brief period at the hospital, fixed posters in support of the Medical Protection Act outside the OPD of the medical college hospital and also at the Sakchi roundabout.

He said that the Medical Protection Act also has a provision for legal action against the doctors on the complaint of the patient or his or his guardians for wrong treatment, over-charging and misbehavior.The agitating medicos said if the government does not fulfil their demands, then they will go on an indefinite strike.