Doctors' strike kills 32 in Patna hospital

Patna, Aug 30: 32 patients admitted to the Patna Medical College and Hosiptal (PMCH) have died after a strike by junior doctors that entered its fourth day on Sunday, Aug 30, authorities said.

"Eleven patients died in the last 24 hours alone (on Saturday and Sunday) due to lack of doctors and treatment in the hospital," a government official said.

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Six patients died during the first 12 hours of the strike beginning on Wednesday, followed by 15 on Thursday and Friday, he said.

Sources said that more than 400 junior doctors went on an indefinite strike on Wednesday, Aug 26 evening, demanding a hike in stipend and payment of salary instead of stipend.

"We are not going to end the strike following the state government's decision to raise stipend. We want the state government to pay monthly salary to us instead of stipend," PMCH Junior Doctors Association president Rajiv Babu said.

"We are getting stipend of Rs 13,000 in the first year, Rs 14,000 in the second year and Rs 15,000 in the third year of post-graduation. We are demanding that this amount be increased to Rs 22,500 at par with some of the neighbouring states," he said.

"It is really a bad situation. Neither the striking doctors nor the government realise the problem. Those who cannot afford treatment outside have been left in the lurch and and waiting for treatment despite the strike," a nurse said.

OneIndia News