Ranchi: The order issued by the Department of Health, Medical Education and Family Welfare that the doctors of non-educational cadre appointed in the state government will not serve in any private hospital, nursing home or test center has led to outrage by the doctors.
Representatives of all the districts across the state attended the meeting on the call of Jhasa at IMA Bhawan located at Karamtoli Chowk. During this, all the doctors in one voice termed the order of the department as a ‘Tughlaq decree’. At the same meeting, the outline of the movement was decided.
Jhasa’s State Secretary Dr Vimlesh Singh said that a meeting of representatives of all the districts of the state was held on Sunday in protest against the order of the government.
During this, it has been decided that if the government does not withdraw its order, then after 15 days from today, the members of IMA along with 2178 government doctors across the state will go on an indefinite strike. However, emergency services will not be interrupted during this period.
Along with this, the representatives of all the districts have also been instructed that they
will ensure to submit a memorandum in the name of the Chief Minister to the Deputy Commissioner and local public representatives of their respective districts. If still the government does not withdraw the order, then all the doctors will resign collectively.
On the other hand, IMA Ranchi Secretary Dr Pradeep Singh said that this order of the government is a Tughlaq decree. He said that when the government does not give NPAs to doctors, then they have no right to take a decision. A similar decree was issued in 2016 as well but the then government withdrew it after heavy opposition from the doctors.
Expressing regret, he said that in a state where there is a huge shortage of doctors, what message does the government want to give by taking out such an order. He said that the government should not force the doctors, otherwise it will be the responsibility of the government. While IMA-JDN’s State Convenor Dr Ajit Kumar said that the government’s order weakens the morale of the doctors.
He said that it is the duty of all doctors to serve the public but the way the order of the department has come they have to think before saving the lives of the patients. If we do not treat, then the doctors have to face the wrath of patients and on the other hand departmental action will be taken for treatment.