State docs threatenstir over safety issue

Patna: Doctors across several govt medical college and hospitals in the state observed a daylong token strike on Tuesday in solidarity with the junior doctors protesting against R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
The strike in Bihar, in response to the nationwide call by the Indian Medical Association (IMA), began at 6am and ended at 6pm.The strike was sparked by the grievances of junior doctors at the R G Kar Medical College, who have been protesting for the past 10 days. Their main concern is the lack of justice in a brutal rape and murder case of their colleague on the college campus.
Meanwhile, members of the Bihar branch of IMA have threatened stern action if the govt fails to address doctors’ demands urgently. “After the heinous crime at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, where a young medic was brutally raped and killed on the hospital premises, the Supreme Court on August 22 directed the central govt health secretary to issue orders to the states’ chief secretaries and DGPs to ensure the safety and basic necessities of doctors at their workplaces. This was to be done within two weeks while the National Task Force prepared its report,” said Dr Ajay Kumar, convener of IMA (Bihar), at a press conference.
Dr Kumar added, “Even after two months, none of the state govts, including Bihar, have complied with the Centre’s orders, which were based on the Supreme Court’s directions.”
“We demand that the law enacted during the Covid-19 pandemic for the safety and security of doctors should be made permanent and no impractical rules should be imposed on medical practitioners,” Dr Kumar said.
The IMA junior doctors’ network and IMA medical students’ network had called for a one-day nationwide token strike on Tuesday to stand in solidarity with the RGKMCH junior doctors, who have been on a fast-unto-death for 10 days. Many doctors have since been admitted to intensive care units due to deteriorating health.
Meanwhile, Dr Ayush Bhadani, a member of the Resident Doctor Association (RDA) at All India Institute of Medical Sciences-Patna, expressed full support for their RGKMCH colleagues. “We also demand immediate justice for the medic who was raped and killed. We observed a symbolic hunger strike but did not boycott services and everything was functioning normally during our protest,” Dr Bhadani said.
Dr Rajat Kumar, RDA president of Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, said they also participated in the strike in solidarity with the RGKMCH doctors.
“However, we ensured that no services were disrupted during the day,” Dr Kumar added.