SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, March 27: Jharkhand doctors find themselves caught in an administrative limbo, as their long-standing demands, once accepted by a former health minister, remain unimplemented under the new leadership.
Six months ago, on September 25, 2024, the then Health Minister Banna Gupta agreed to a nine-point charter of demands, including the exemption of 50-bed hospitals from the Clinical Establishment Act (CEA), following discussions with representatives from the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA).
The meeting, attended by Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) Health Ajay Kumar Singh and NRHM Director from the government’s side, along with IMA and JSHSA representatives including Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh, Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh, and Dr. Thakur Mritunjay Kumar Singh, resulted in the acceptance of several key proposals.
These included the exemption of 50-bed hospitals from the CEA like in Uttar Pradesh, inclusion of IMA and JDA representatives in the National Task Force per Supreme Court directives, and ensuring 13-month salary payments to doctors, similar to the police department.
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Post-Election Shift and Policy Stagnation
Despite these assurances, the government failed to issue an official notification before the Model Code of Conduct was imposed for the assembly elections. Following the elections, Dr. Irfan Ansari took over as Jharkhand’s new Health Minister, but six months have passed without any progress on the previously approved demands.
This delay has sparked growing frustration among doctors, especially as their counterparts in Bihar have launched a three-day strike over similar grievances, including biometric attendance rules.
A senior JSHSA office-bearer, speaking anonymously, pointed out that while the health minister has changed, the government remains the same, and ACS Health Ajay Kumar Singh is still in office. “He should honor his own commitments,” the official stated.
Doctors Hope for Action Despite Minister’s Silence
IMA State Coordinator and former National Vice President Dr. Ajay Kumar Singh expressed optimism that the government would eventually implement the agreed-upon measures. However, he acknowledged that Dr. Irfan Ansari appears preoccupied with multiple responsibilities, and health issues do not seem to be his priority.
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“Some middlemen might be misguiding him, but since he is a physician himself and has shown interest in improving rural healthcare, we hope he will honor the exemption of 50-bed hospitals from the CEA,” Dr. Singh remarked.
He further emphasized that the Medical Protection Act (MPA) is not just about safeguarding doctors but also ensuring patients’ safety, as attacks on healthcare professionals ultimately impact patient care.
