Bihar: Appoint doctors through walk-in interviews, says IMA

PATNA: The Bihar branch of Indian Medical Association (IMA) has urged the health minister to fill all vacant posts of doctors through walk-in interviews for strengthening the healthcare system in the state for handling the Covid-19 pandemic.
A delegation led by IMA president Dr Bimal Karak met health minister Mangal Pandey on Tuesday and apprised him of the problems coming in the way of taking care of the huge number of patients, including those tested Covid positive, from primary health centres to big medical college and hospitals because of the shortage of doctors at all levels. They said only a strong medical force would be able to save lives in this unprecedented situation caused by the Covid-19 virus.
The delegation also included former IMA (Bihar) president Dr Sahjanand Prasad Singh and president-elect Dr Amar Kant Jha Amar.
IMA (Bihar) secretary Dr Sunil Kumar said, “We informed the minister that only 4,500 doctors were presently working against the total sanctioned posts of 12,000. In medical colleges, too, the doctors’ total strength is about 2100 against the sanctioned posts of 4,000.”
Apparently, the first priority in this challenging situation is filling up all vacant posts by adopting the shortest routes, he said.
The IMA state unit further demanded exemption of all private clinics, nursing homes with up to 50 beds from registration under the Clinical Registration Act and reservation of beds for doctors falling sick due to Covid infection in the IGIMS and AIIMS-Patna.
Other demands placed by the doctor’s body before the minister were immediate payment of the incentive amount announced by the government for all the doctors, supply of rapid antigen test kits at block level for maximum testing, relaxation in the ban on doctors’ leave and withdrawal of doctor’s suspension in the coronavirus times.
The IMA assured all positive support to the state machinery in its stride for building strong healthcare system, added Dr Sunil.