SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, Jan 17: Dr. Jagannath Hembram and Dr. Shahid Anwar, the candidates for the Kolhan Division vice-president position in the 2025-27 elections of the Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA), have promised to address various issues faced by medical officers if elected.
The elections are scheduled for January 19, with seven vice-presidents already elected unopposed.
The contest will focus on the Kolhan Division vice-president role, where Dr. Hembram from Chaibasa and Dr. Anwar from Jamshedpur are in direct competition. The current vice-president, Dr. Alok Ranjan, has opted not to contest due to his busy hospital schedule.
Dr. Jagannath Hembram’s Promises for Kolhan Division
Dr. Hembram, highlighting his priorities, emphasized the severe shortage of medical officers in the region. He pledged to work toward increasing the number and deployment of specialist doctors in both sadar and block-level areas.
“Currently, there is only one medical college in Jamshedpur. I aim to expedite the establishment of a medical college in Chaibasa, which will significantly boost the doctor population in the region,” Dr. Hembram stated.
Also Read- SC halts Delhi HC’s order for MoU signing for PM-ABHIM scheme implementation
Additionally, he promised to push for medical officers’ demands, such as MPA, DACP, and promotion, and stressed the need for a mandatory one-year posting of doctors in rural areas to improve health services.
“Like Senior Residents, I will also stress for one-year mandatory posting of doctors in rural areas of Kolhan for streamlining health services”, he said.
Dr. Shahid Anwar’s Focus on Doctor Couple Issues
Dr. Shahid Anwar addressed the challenges faced by husband-wife medical officer pairs, who are often posted at different locations. He proposed advocating for their postings at the same location to enhance their ability to provide effective services.
“If elected, I will push for these paired officers to be posted together. Additionally, I will work to ensure that husbandless medical officers are posted at health centers closer to their in-laws’ or mother’s homes,” Dr. Anwar said.
Dr. Anwar’s Plan to Expand JSHSA Membership in Kolhan
Focusing on membership expansion, Dr. Anwar expressed his intent to increase the number of JSHSA members in the Kolhan Division districts which includes East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum, and Saraikela Kharsawan districts.
Currently, the Kolhan Division has 219 voters, consisting of 90 in East Singhbhum, 80 in Chaibasa, and 49 in Saraikela. Dr. Anwar promised to work towards better representation and services for the medical officers across these areas.