As hundreds of doctors plan to go strike on Monday to protest abduction of the RCH Gumla official, Dr RB Chaudhary, State Government seems to be overly relaxed and taking the threat that could affect medical services very lightly. Despite notices sent to the Health department officials, no specific instructions were issued by the department to keep the medical services going.
“Although we have received the information regarding strike no instruction has been issued in this regard from the government specifying alternative measures on the day of the strike,” said Civil Surgeon Ranchi, Dr Gopal Shrivastava. Doctors in all districts are likely to stay away from their work on Monday to express their anguish over abduction of Chaudhary which took place on April 30 and threatened to intensify stir if Chaudhary is not rescued safely.
A notice regarding strike has been sent by Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA) to all senior Health department officials through SMS (short-messaging-text) and other social media platform. The association will chalk out future strategies on Tuesday if the government fails to secure release of Chaudhary.
“We have informed the Health department officials that we will not render our services on Monday. If the Doctor is not recovered till Monday then we will decide future course of action on Tuesday. We have the support of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and we are going to hold a meeting with them on Tuesday,” said Secretary of JSHSA, Dr Vimlesh Singh.
Medical services are likely to be hit as the strike of Monday will be supported by around 1600 doctors posted in government hospitals across the State however the association assured that emergency services will not be. A senior functionary in the Health department confided that notices were sent through SMSes and the concern of the association is genuine considering the threat to medical fraternity from such incidents.
“This is an alarming situation and they are attempting to highlight the problem. It is a challenge for the government also nonetheless we expect the strike to be called off,” said a highly placed source in the department. Meanwhile, police is yet to recover the abducted Doctor and officials are maintaining silence over any breakthrough in the case.
Notably, ransom of Rs 50-lakh has been demanded from Chaudhary’s family living in Sahibganj. As media reports highlight that the abductors claimed themselves as ultras, police did not reject valuable piece of information. “This is a sensitive issue so it would not appropriate to comment on this. Investigation into the case is going on,” said Superintendent of Police, Gumla, Bhimsen Tuti.