MGM Hospital strike disrupts services in Jamshedpur, 600 patients affected

Junior doctors call off protest after stipend assurance

Jamshedpur, April 6: A strike by junior doctors at the MGM Hospital on Monday disrupted medical services for several hours before being called off following assurances from authorities. The protest, held under the banner of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), was primarily aimed at demanding a hike in stipends.
The strike began around 8:30 AM, leading to a complete shutdown of the Outpatient Department (OPD), except for emergency services. As Mondays typically witness a heavy patient load, the disruption caused major inconvenience. According to hospital staff, more than 600 patients had to return without treatment as registration services remained suspended.
Junior doctors locked the registration counter gates early in the morning, leaving staff inside and halting the issuance of registration slips. Although senior doctors were present in some OPDs, they could not attend to patients due to the lack of registration. At the same time, patients arriving at OPD and emergency gates were informed about the strike and turned away. Only critically ill patients were admitted to the emergency ward, while others were asked to return later.
The situation caused distress among patients and their families, many of whom had travelled from distant areas for treatment. The striking doctors stated that they have been demanding a stipend hike for the past five years but have received only assurances without concrete action.
Hospital authorities intervened to resolve the issue. Principal Dr. Sanjay Kumar and Superintendent Dr. Balram Jha held discussions with the protesting doctors. Following these talks, officials assured that the government is taking the demand seriously and that necessary administrative steps are already underway.
After receiving this assurance, the junior doctors called off the strike at around 1:00 PM, ending the protest after nearly four and a half hours. Hospital services, including OPD operations and registration, resumed soon after.
JDA Secretary Dr. Kunal confirmed that the strike was withdrawn based on the commitment given by the hospital administration. Authorities have expressed hope that the issue will be resolved soon to prevent further disruptions in healthcare services.