SUBHASH MISHRA
Ranchi, Jan 25: The newly elected committee of the Jharkhand State Health Services Association (JSHSA), which represents state government medical officers, will meet Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari on Monday to address concerns regarding the morning and evening OPD schedules and other genuine demands of doctors.
Concerns Over OPD Duty at Sadar Hospitals
At the first executive body meeting of the JSHSA, held at the IMA Building on Friday evening, office bearers expressed their concerns about the challenges faced by doctors regarding the morning and evening OPD duties at Sadar Hospitals across the state. The committee has decided to approach the health minister to discuss these issues.
Request for Minister’s Presence at Installation Ceremony
JSHSA’s newly elected president, Dr. Bimlesh Singh, announced that a delegation would meet Health Minister Dr. Irfan Ansari on January 27 to invite him as the chief guest for the installation ceremony of the new committee.
Dr. Singh said that the date of the installation ceremony would be finalized after confirming the minister’s availability.
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Workforce Shortage Impacting OPD Operations
Dr. Singh highlighted the ongoing workforce shortage at Sadar Hospitals, which makes it difficult for doctors to manage both morning and evening OPD shifts.
Since emergency services are already operational 24/7, the association plans to request the minister to introduce a one-time OPD system until the staffing issue is resolved.
The morning (9 am to 1 pm) and evening (4 pm to 6 pm) OPD schedules have been running since 2010.
Differences Between Sadar and Medical College OPDs
Dr. Singh explained that while medical colleges manage morning and evening OPDs without issue due to a larger number of doctors, it is particularly challenging at Sadar Hospitals because of the staffing shortage.
He further mentioned that the emergency services are already catering to the public’s needs, making it even more strenuous for doctors to handle both OPD duties. This concern will be brought to the health minister’s attention.
“Morning and evening OPD functions smoothly at medical colleges because each faculty has more than 50 doctors. However, it is challenging at Sadar Hospitals due to a shortage of doctors. Additionally, emergency services are already in place to meet the demand. Therefore, we intend to bring this issue to the minister’s attention,” said Dr. Singh.
The newly formed JSHSA committee aims to fight for the legitimate demands of doctors and meet the expectations of their members. Dr. Singh stated that the committee is committed to ensuring the welfare of medical officers.
At the meeting, alongside President Dr. Bimlesh Singh and Secretary Dr. Thakur Mritunjay Singh, all eight Vice Presidents, State Convener Dr. Sharad Kumar, Treasurer Dr. Stephen Xess, and all seven Joint Secretaries were in attendance.
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Executive Members Nominated
At the meeting, six executive members from each of the state’s divisions were also nominated. These include:
- Dr. Sanjay Kumar Kujur (South Chhotanagpur)
- Dr. Rahul Kumar Singh (North Chhotanagpur)
- Dr. Bimlesh Singh (Kolhan Division)
- Dr. Santosh Kumar (Palamu Division)
- Dr. Chitranjan Kumar (Santhal Division)
