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Jharkhand doctors call three-day strike for Medical Protection Act
The Act seeks to protect doctors and hospitals from any attacks by outsiders.
Government doctors across Jharkhand have called for a strike on September 28, 29 and 30 to push for the implementation of the Medical Protection Act (MPA) in the state. The doctors have also decided to submit their mass resignation to the chief minister on October 15 if no action is taken.
The move was decided in a joint meeting by the state chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA) and Jharkhand Health Services Association (JHASA).
The doctors said on Sunday that even private doctors will boycott services on September 30. “All private hospitals, personal clinics, nursing homes, pathology and other services will remain closed on September 30,” IMA secretary Dr Pradeep Kumar Singh said.
MPA seeks to protect doctors and hospitals from any attacks by outsiders. It mandates a fine of `50,000 and a three-year jail term for people who damage hospital property or assault doctors.
The implementation of the act has been a long-standing demand of doctors in Jharkhand. The doctors said that the act has already been implemented in 18 states and serves a larger purpose for the protection of patients as well as doctors.
During their last meeting, IMA and JHASA members had set September 15 as the deadline for the government to implement the act in the state.
“The government has given us continuous assurances till now. We are done with accepting assurances from the government and want concrete action now,” state IMA president Dr AK Singh said.
“The doctors at the primary health centres and community health centres will soon start submitting their resignations at the district levels, where they will be collected and submitted together to the chief minister,” he said.
