The Indian Medical Association (IMA) brushed aside State Government’s views on strengthening healthcare services in rural areas by integrating it with the Panchayati Raj institutions and opposed the convergence policy in matters of leave on grounds of alleged petty politics that govern the grass-root democratic setup.
Even as the State unit of the association expressed reservations about clubbing the two institutions the Jharkhand State Health Services Association was in loggerheads with the State Government pressing rollback of the provisions that makes doctors answerable to the PRIs. IMA’s National president SS Agarwal conveyed the association’s mandate on the State Government’s attempts to the integrate health delivery system with the elected form of governance in rural areas.
Speaking to media persons at Ranchi today, Agarwal expressed reservations about political atmosphere allegedly hostile to the medical professionals and the undue pressure which doctors would undergo due to the policy.
“One has to be answerable to only those who are elected under the Panchayati Raj system and satisfy to them only,” said Agarwal adding that the political atmosphere governing Panchayati Raj system is the biggest deterrent to the provision.
Notably, the State Government has made it mandatory for doctors posted in rural areas to seek leave from ‘Mukhiya’ who were also given the right to examine attendance of doctors. The head of the over 2.5 lakh members association also expressed shock at poor law enforcements vis-à-vis Medical Protection Act and indicated that the association would be pressing for a universal protection act backed by severe punishment ingrained into the penal provisions that govern crime and sentences based on that.
“There has to be a central act but that solely would not ensure protection. So, I during a meeting the Union Health Minister have demanded that new clauses should be inserted into CrPC and IPC to provide teeth the act for the protection of doctors,” continued Agarwal adding further that if government fails to do so then that would be tantamount to surrendering to hooliganism.
The largest association of doctors is also contemplating to extend partnership offer to governments to widen the reach of the medical schemes floated for the last man in the queue. Agarwal apprised the local chapter of IMA about the meeting with the Union Health Minister and shared principal demands of the association that was put before the Minister on behalf of the association.
Women’s Doctors wing IMA Jharkhand Dr Bharti Kashyap felicitated the national president with a bouquet, memento and shawl and also presented a brochure to of IMA Women’s Wing’s activities in Jharkhand.