(Aditya Shaw, Intern Journalist): Patna: Junior doctors from all the medical college hospitals of Bihar have gone on strike. Junior doctors completely boycotted OPD, emergency, and ward duty. There are a total of nine government medical college hospitals in Bihar where the juniors of the doctors started an indefinite strike from Wednesday morning. However, junior doctors kept the duty of treatment of Corona patients out of the strike. These doctors have gone on strike demanding an increase in scholarship. These doctors had informed the principal and superintendents of their medical colleges about the indefinite strike just a day before. The health department remained completely unaware of this strike. The Resident Doctors Association has also supported the work boycott of junior residents from all over Bihar.
Boycott all work leaving Corona duty-President of Junior Medical Association of Patna Medical College Hospital, Dr. Harendra Kumar said that about one thousand junior doctors of all the medical college hospitals of the state boycotted all the functions except the duty of corona unit. He said that the administration of all the medical colleges was informed orally a day in advance regarding the boycott.
Due to the evasive attitude of the college administration and health department, junior doctors have been forced to boycott work. He said that the strike was last announced in August 2020, but the Health Department had banned it by taking a stay order from the Patna High Court.
No increase in scholarship-He informed that in 2017, for the first, second and third year, the scholarship of junior doctors was fixed at 50 thousand, 55 thousand, and 60 thousand rupees respectively. Then the Health Department assured to increase the scholarship every three years. Accordingly, the scholarship of the students was to be increased in January 2020 but it has not been done yet.
At present, 90 thousand rupees are being paid as scholarships to junior doctors of AIIMS, Patna, and IGIMS, Patna. At the same time, Dr. Neeraj Kumar, president of DMCH Junior Doctors Association, said that he will not return to work until his demand is met.
Resident Doctors Association also supports- On the other hand, Dr. Vinay Kumar, President of the Association of Resident Doctors, supported the demands of junior doctors. He said that many times the Health Minister and Principal Secretary, Health have been informed by JDA and RDA about increasing the stipend and salary of resident doctors. Despite this, no decision has been taken by the state government.
In 2014 itself, it was announced in the resolution letter of the Bihar government that the stipend and salary of resident doctors (PG and Senior Residents) will be revised every 3 years and this was increased in May 2017, but in 2020 it has no Has not been considered. While all the junior and senior doctors are working at Corona, risking their lives.
About Post Author
