Due to a strike by doctors and healthcare workers in Jharkhand, all Outpatient Departments (OPDs) in both government and private hospitals are closed today. Approximately 17,000 doctors and 25,000 healthcare workers across the state are participating in this strike. As a result, not only medical treatment but also all forms of health examinations are suspended. Emergency services are the only ones available. The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) call for the strike has received support from several health organizations.
Hospitals in Jharkhand are facing a complete shutdown of OPD services, leaving patients without access to doctors and healthcare staff.
Key Points:
- Emergency services are the only option available, and all types of medical examinations are also affected.
- The strike, announced by the IMA, extends to major hospitals such as RIMS, Sadar, CHC, and even private hospitals.
The strike was sparked by a serious incident in Kolkata, where a trainee female doctor was raped and murdered. Doctors across the country, both senior and junior, have taken this attack seriously. In response, Jharkhand’s IMA, RIMS JDA, JHASA, IMA’s Women Wing, RDA CIP, HHPHI, IAP, IDA, and Jharkhand Paramedical Association, along with all the state’s medical colleges and private hospitals, have announced a 24-hour shutdown of OPD services starting today. All regular surgeries have also been suspended, and numerous healthcare organizations have expressed their support for the strike. They demand the death penalty for those responsible for the heinous crime against the female doctor.
Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh, Secretary of IMA Jharkhand, mentioned that this is the first time such a large number of healthcare workers are halting medical services. He stated that more than 17,000 doctors and 25,000 healthcare workers, including paramedical staff, ANMs, GNM nurses, and members of the Physiotherapist Association, are on strike. A crucial issue at the heart of the strike is the demand for better protection for doctors, which the state government has yet to address.
The situation is further aggravated by a recent incident where a senior doctor was assaulted by a patient’s relative at Hazaribagh Medical College, raising concerns about safety once again. The government is being urged to quickly implement the Medical Protection Act to ensure the safety of healthcare professionals.
Efforts are being made to maintain emergency services. The available doctors will handle all types of patients, and emergency services will remain operational even in CHCs in rural areas, although the shortage of doctors there has already been a longstanding issue. The aim is to minimize the inconvenience to patients as much as possible. – Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Civil Surgeon, Ranchi.
