SUBHASH MISHRA
Dhanbad, April 11: Members of the Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA) have strongly opposed the inclusion of Health Minister Dr Irfan Ansari as a member of their organization.
Medical officers from Dhanbad, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, and other districts alleged that the new office bearers of the JSHSA committee have violated organizational rules by granting membership to a non-government doctor.
JSHSA, the representative body of state government doctors, had awarded lifetime membership to Dr Ansari during a function held in Ranchi on February 16.
“JSHSA is an organization exclusively for doctors working in government service. Dr Ansari may be a doctor, but he is not a government employee. The new committee (2025–27) inducted him for personal gains,” said JSHSA members, speaking anonymously as they serve under the Health Department.
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Growing Discontent Among Medical Officers
Medical officers from various districts mentioned that although they remained silent for two months, they now believe it is time to voice their protest, especially after members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) raised concerns over the matter.
The protest highlights a deepening rift within the state’s medical community, with concerns that organizational principles are being compromised for political favour.
Founding Member Criticizes Violation of Rules
One of JSHSA’s founders, Dr Sumant Mishra, also criticized the decision, emphasizing that granting membership to a non-government doctor violates the association’s core regulations. Only serving doctors employed by the state government are eligible for membership, he pointed out.
“I was the founding secretary of JSHSA. After my retirement, I automatically ceased to be a member. I don’t wish to involve myself in controversy, but I must clarify that according to JSHSA manuals, only serving government doctors can be members,” said Dr Mishra.
He added that when JSHSA was established in 2000, even teachers from government medical colleges—who are government employees—were excluded from membership, as they considered themselves distinct from medical officers.
Dr Mishra also noted that government doctors secured DACP benefits in 2005–06, whereas medical college teachers received them later. Therefore, granting membership to Dr Ansari is technically incorrect.
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JSHSA Defends Its Decision
Meanwhile, JSHSA president Dr Bimlesh Singh defended the committee’s move, stating that the lifetime membership was awarded as an honorary gesture.
“Just as universities confer honorary Doctor of Literature (D.Litt) degrees during convocation ceremonies, JSHSA similarly awarded lifetime membership to the health minister, who is also an established physician, during our installation ceremony,” said Dr Singh.
However, he assured members that Dr Ansari would not have any voting rights within the organization, aiming to address concerns about possible influence or misuse of authority.
