Jharkhand doctors' take out candle march, threatens to go on indefinite strike over pending demands

Ranchi: Supporting the implementation of the Medical Protection Act and other demands, various doctors’ bodies of the state staged a candle march at the headquarters of all 24 Jharkhand districts. The doctors have threatened to on an indefinite strike on March 12 if their demands are not fulfilled.

Seven doctors’ bodies including the Indian Medical Association (IMA), the Jharkhand Health Service Association (JHSA), the RIMS Teachers Association, the Junior Doctors Association (JDA), the IMA Women’s Wing, and the Association of Healthcare Providers of India (AHPI) took out candle march on Sunday evening from RIMS to IMA building.

Previously Medical Dialogues reported that taking cognizance of several incidences of violence against doctors in the last few days, the Jharkhand branch of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has decided to boycott outpatient department (OPD) works for 24 hours. The doctors have been demanding that the state government should implement the Medical Protection Act and give exemption to the 50-bed hospitals and clinics from the Clinical Establishment Act.

Dr Vikas Kumar of the neurosurgery department at RIMS and IMA member told Medical Dialogues, " If in seven days government failed to heed to our demands, all government and private doctors would proceed on indefinite work boycott after march 12. Instances of doctors being attacked publically must not be taken lightly. There has been increasing cases of violence against doctors in Hazaribagh, Garhwa, Ranchi, Jamtara, Dhanbad and many other districts. Hence, it is high time that the government should take some steps to resolve the issue." 

"Doctors bodies have also urged the authorities to ensure compensation to the kin of the doctors of Dhanbad and RIMS as per government guidelines. We also don't want to go on strike as it will be inconvenient for the public. However, we can't turn a blind eye to the cases of violence that the doctors are facing each day despite their efforts to survive," he added.