The Indian Medical Association’s (IMA) call for suspension of all non-emergency services, including Out Patient Department (OPD) service for 12 hours to register protest against the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill crippled the health care services on Saturday across the State. Medical practitioners of both government and private hospitals supported the strike, terming the government’s move of bringing NMC bill as an insane step.
Beginning from the Capital City, the medical services were severely affected at Sadar Hospital, especially in the first half while at Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) as well, the OPD patients had to face some difficulties. State Secretary of IMA Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh said that all services, including OPD, leaving the emergency remained closed for 12 hours, as per the IMA directives.
Around 1,800 government and 5,000 private doctors of all medical colleges of Jharkhand, Sadar Hospital and Primary Health Care (PHC) affiliated to IMA supported the strike. According to doctors, if NMC Bill is implemented, AYUSH doctors will also be allowed to practice Modern Medicine for which atleast MBBS qualification is mandatory now. Moreover, it will ruthlessly deteriorate the medical services.
IMA State Secretary further opined that NMC bill will not just have an impact on the medical practitioners but will put the lives of patients at stake. Terming the NMC bill anti-democratic, anti-poor and pro-rich, anti-reservation, anti-backward community students, anti-medical profession and anti-human, the members of IMA Jharkhand Chapter had submitted a letter to PMO for desisting from clearing the ‘disastrous’ bill.
The strike was observed as ‘Dhikkar Diwas’ across Bokaro district. In Bokaro all non-emergency services, including OPD services in 140 government hospitals and 350 private hospitals remained closed for the 12 hours as doctors there too supported this nationwide strike against NMC bill.
Meanwhile, the nationwide agitation hit the health services in Jamshedpur’s rural localities more in comparison to the city. During the strike, all non-emergency services including OPD remained closed for the 12 hours. However, critical services including deliveries, emergencies and in-patient care were provided in the city hospitals.
Services were hampered at OPDs at the state-run 18 PHCs, nine Community Health Centers (CHCs), sub divisional hospital at Ghatshila and Sadar Hospital in Khasamahal as the doctors did not attend the OPD patients. However, OPDs at corporate and private hospitals and MGM Medical College and Hospital at Sakchi served the patients despite the protest. IMA Secretary, Jamshedpur Wing, Mrityunjay Kumar said that about 500 doctors from the steel city observed a 12-hour strike from 6am to 6pm on Saturday.