IMA urges Nitish Kumar to shift health secretary and 2 DMs

PATNA: The state unit of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged chief minister Nitish Kumar and health minister Mangal Pandey to replace principal secretary of health department Uday Singh Kumawat by his predecessor Sanjay Kumar.
Also, it demanded immediate transfer of the DMs of Bhojpur and Gopalganj allegedly for their anti-doctor approach.
IMA (Bihar) secretary Dr Sunil Kumar on Sunday said the medical fraternity of the state was anguished over certain decisions taken by Kumawat. He alleged that Kumawat’s apathetic approach was discouraging to doctors who were fighting against the Covid 19 pandemic with utmost dedication and even falling sick due to it.
Dr Sunil said a delegation of doctors comprising IMA state president Dr Bimal Kumar Karak, president-elect Dr Amar Kant Jha Amar and former president Dr Sahjanand met the health minister on Friday and submitted a letter in this regard. The letter addressed to the chief minister was sent to his office with a copy to the chief secretary as well.
The IMA, in its letter, said some unnecessary actions taken by the DMs of Bhojpur and Gopalganj led to frustration and discouragement among the doctors, who were fighting the pandemic with all sincerity in the two districts.
Dr Amar told this newspaper that the delegation, in its meeting with health minister, urged him to expedite the process of posting of 1,100 doctors appointed recently in all medical colleges and district hospitals. The IMA also demanded immediate appointment of general doctors against the existing 4,000 vacancies. Amar said the minister assured the delegation to act positively and expeditiously so as to further strengthen the medical force in this trying times of Covid 19 pandemic.
The IMA also urged the state government to reserve 25% beds in corona-dedicated hospitals for treatment of doctors getting infected. It said similar provisions have already been made for officers of the administrative and police services.
Dr Amar said another important decision taken by the IMA was to offer free consultation by its members across the state to plasma donors and their family members for one year in order to motivate others for this noble cause. Plasma donation would help save many lives, he added.