With the junior doctors’ strike in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) entering its fourth day, the State government on Wednesday asked the medicos to resume duty or face action if they tried to create impediment in medical services at the premier hospital.
The state government was ready to hear the legitimate demand for their security at the PMCH, but can’t accept the demand for removal of Principal Prof S N Sinha ... they should resume duty at the earliest or face action if they failed to do so, Principal Secretary (Health) R K Mahajan told reporters.
Rejecting the agitating junior doctors’ demand for removal of the PMCH Principal, he said in that case such a demand should have been made by the junior doctors before launching the strike.
Making a fervent appeal to the junior doctors to resume duty in the larger interest of the patients, Mr Mahajan said the State government was ready to sort out their outstanding grievances, but if they refused to heed, strict action would be taken as per rules.
It may be mentioned that junior doctors of the PMCH have been striking work for the past four days following clashes between the medicos and kin of some patients.
More join stir
Their colleagues in six of eight government medical colleges in Bihar, barring Bettiah and Pawapuri, have also joined the stir pressing for security of the medicos.
As many as nine patients have died at the PMCH since the junior doctors went on strike paralysing medical services in the premier hospital, officials said.
Seeking to soothe the ruffled feathers of agitating doctors, Mr Mahajan said both the doctors and kin of some patients have lodged FIR against each other and seven persons have been arrested in this connection.
Security strengthened
The Principal Secretary (Health) said those involved in assaulting some junior doctors would be acted upon the Professional Protection Act, while the number of security guards deployed at the PMCH was being doubled from 75 to 150.
He said he was aware of the PMCH Principal’s order to shut down the Patna Medical College for the time being in view of the junior doctors’ strike and asking them to vacate hostels.
Mr Mahajan said emergency medical services at the PMCH have been restored since Tuesday and an additional 52 doctors deployed to improve medical services there -- PTI
