FAIMA slams Jharkhand Health Dept for treating Senior Residents as ‘bounded labour’
SUBHASH MISHRA Ranchi, July 18: The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has strongly condemned the repeated transfer of PG-bound…
SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, July 18: The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) has strongly condemned the repeated transfer of PG-bound Senior Residents (SRs) between medical colleges and sadar hospitals across Jharkhand. The national body termed the practice exploitative and counterproductive.
Dr. Jaideep Kumar Choudhary, Co-chairman of FAIMA, voiced serious concern over the health department’s actions.
He said, “The department must stop treating Senior Residents as bonded labour. This constant shifting affects their capacity to serve efficiently and causes mental stress.”
He added that SRs are willing to complete their mandatory three-year service period peacefully, but such frequent transfers make them feel like nomads.
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Controversial Order Halted After Resident Protest
On July 14, the health department issued an order deputing 103 PG-bound Senior Residents posted at five government medical colleges to respective sadar hospitals. However, the order was put on hold a day later, on July 15, after a delegation of SRs met in Ranchi and appealed for reconsideration.
A final decision on the matter is pending, as the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) is currently out of state.
Notably, a similar order in August 2023 had transferred 129 Senior Residents to sadar hospitals, but the National Medical Commission (NMC) nullified that move in July 2024, directing the state to deploy PG-bound SRs only within medical colleges.
Junior Doctors Network Also Voices Opposition
The Jharkhand chapter of the Indian Medical Association’s Junior Doctors Network (JDN) has also opposed the health department’s deputation policy. JDN State Chairman Dr. Sushil Kumar stated that while Senior Residents are not against serving in any assigned area during their three-year tenure, basic facilities and safety must be ensured.
Citing a recent incident, he said, “At Hazaribagh Sadar Hospital, Dr. Akanksha Singh was attacked in her residential quarters late at night under the pretext of an emergency. Female SRs especially feel unsafe working in peripheral postings without adequate security.”
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Allegation of Non-Compliance with Supreme Court Directive
JDN further alleged that the Jharkhand health department has failed to implement the Supreme Court’s directive issued last year in response to the RG Kar Medical College incident in Kolkata. The directive called for better working conditions and security for doctors, particularly in remote and high-risk areas.
FAIMA has reiterated its demand that the health department immediately withdraw the recent deputation notification and respect the guidelines set by the NMC. The medical fraternity now awaits a clear stance from the state health authorities in the matter.
