Ten major medical organisations in Jharkhand have launched a joint medical movement demanding improvements in the state’s healthcare system and better facilities for patients. The organisations, including the Jharkhand unit of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), have warned of a doctors’ strike from October 22 if the government fails to address their demands by October 21.
The key demands include enhanced security for doctors, effective implementation of the Medical Protection Act, timely clearance of pending payments under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, adequate staffing in government hospitals and improved training facilities for medical students.
The participating organisations said the movement was not limited to protecting the interests of medical professionals but also aimed to ensure safe, accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for patients.
According to the organisations, doctors need a secure working environment, sufficient staffing and timely payments to deliver effective medical services. They maintained that addressing these issues would ultimately benefit ordinary patients and strengthen the public healthcare system.
The organisations have given the state government until October 21 to take a positive decision on their demands. If no satisfactory response is received, doctors will begin a strike on October 22. A phased agitation across Jharkhand is also scheduled to begin on October 23.
However, the doctors have said they will make every effort to ensure that emergency and life-saving medical services continue during the protest so that critically ill patients do not face undue hardship.
The joint movement highlights concerns raised by medical professionals over staffing shortages, workplace security, payment delays and the quality of medical education and training.
The government’s response to the demands is expected to determine the course of the proposed agitation. No official response from the state government was mentioned in the information provided.