Medical services at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) have reached a standstill as junior doctors have officially launched a strike to protest against several long-standing grievances. Following the decision made by the Junior Doctor Association (JDA), the outpatient department (OPD) services have been completely disrupted, causing significant distress to patients arriving for treatment.
All Services Except Emergency are Stalled
While the junior doctors have currently exempted emergency services from the strike, all other medical services within the hospital have been completely halted. Due to the absence of junior doctors, the hospital's routine functionality has collapsed, leaving patients struggling to access care and medical consultations.
Reasons Behind the Doctors' Dissatisfaction
The medical staff have been expressing frustration with the hospital administration and the government for a prolonged period. Their primary demands and grievances are outlined as follows:
- Security Measures: Doctors are deeply dissatisfied with the rising instances of violence against healthcare professionals and the inadequate security arrangements currently in place. They are demanding the deployment of a sufficient number of trained security personnel within the hospital premises.
- Prompt Legal Action: The association has called for the immediate registration of a formal case (FIR) in every instance of violence occurring against doctors.
- Delays in Pay and Stipends: There has been a consistent delay in the disbursement of stipends for PG resident doctors and the revision of salaries for senior resident doctors. The doctors allege that despite submitting multiple memorandums, no concrete action has been taken by the authorities.
- Hospital Infrastructure: Doctors are urgently demanding improvements to the hospital's infrastructure, including the availability of essential medicines, modern medical equipment, improved testing facilities, an increased number of ICU beds, and reliable patient transport services like ambulances.
Nursing Staff Resume Duties
Amid the ongoing crisis, there is a small measure of relief as the nursing staff, who were previously protesting for their own demands, have returned to work. After receiving concrete assurances from the hospital superintendent, the nurses have officially ended their protest and resumed their duties. However, with the junior doctors' strike still active, the hospital remains under significant stress and disorder.
