12-hour fast by junior doctors in Jharkhand disrupts OPD services

SUBHASH MISHRA

Dhanbad, Oct 15: A dawn-to-dusk fast (6 AM to 6 PM) by junior doctors on Tuesday severely impacted outpatient department (OPD) services at four medical colleges in Jharkhand.

OPD services across colleges

Dr Raghvendra Kumar, state general secretary of the IMA Junior Doctors Network (JDN), stated that the 12-hour fasting protest led to complete paralysis of OPD services at several institutions, including Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) Ranchi, Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College Hospital (MGMMCH) Jamshedpur, Shahid Nirmal Mahto Medical College Hospital (SNMMCH) Dhanbad, and Medinirai Medical College Hospital (MMCH) Palamu.

The national body of the IMA had called for a fast in solidarity with junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College Hospital in Kolkata, who have been on a hunger strike since October 9.

The junior doctors of JDN, Junior Doctors Association (JDA RIMS), and Medical Students Network (MSN) in Jharkhand were instructed to participate in the fasting protest.

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The fast was particularly effective at RIMS Ranchi, where JDA President Dr. Ankit and Vice-President Dr. Abhishek Hansdak led the agitation. As nearly all junior doctors and senior residents participated in the fast, OPD services at RIMS were significantly disrupted.

Emergency services exempted from protest

Despite the ongoing protest, the JDA made provisions to exempt emergency services from the agitation. A senior office-bearer noted that the decision to boycott OPD services was made during a meeting on Monday evening.

At MGMMCH Jamshedpur, the protest was led by President Dr Ganesh Kumar and Dr. Jahanzeb Khan. Even though Superintendent Dr Shikha Rani reached out to the protesting doctors for discussions to resume OPD services, they declined to engage.

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Parallel OPD initiatives

At SNMMCH Dhanbad, while the OPD services were paralyzed, junior doctors under Dr Junaid organised a parallel OPD near the library for underprivileged patients, maintaining their commitment to serve while simultaneously observing the 12-hour fast.

At MMCH Palamu, junior doctors sat in a fasting protest under Dr Snehal Harsh, completely disrupting OPD services.

Meanwhile, at Phulo Jhanho Medical College Hospital Dumka, with only five junior doctors available, the OPD services were rendered ineffective. JDN members led by Dr. Solanki also observed the dawn-to-dusk fast.

However, the agitation at Sheikh Bhikhari Medical College Hospital Hazaribagh was relatively ineffective.

Dr. Raghvendra Kumar, JDN state secretary, expressed pride in the protest’s success, stating, “Junior doctors of Jharkhand medical colleges have shown solidarity with their Kolkata counterparts.”