432 contract doctors on strike in Jharkhand

Jamshedpur, July 18: Over 400 contractual doctors went on an indefinite strike in Jharkhand from last midnight in support of their longstanding one-point demand to regularize them.

A total of 432 doctors, appointed on contract by the state government in 2005, were on strike to press for the demand that their services be regularised, President of Indian Medical Association, Jharkhand chapter, Dr. Bimlesh Singh told PTI over phone.

He said though Jharkhand Health Minister Hemlal Murmu had repeatedly assured to regularise them nothing had been done as yet. The minister had made similar promise to a delegation of doctors, who met him here recently, to regularize their services by June 15.

The IMA President said Jharkhand was already facing a shortage of over 5000 doctors. Singh said the IMA, Jharkhand chapter would join the strike if the state government did not respond to their demand soon. Official sources said the strike did not much affect work at hospitals.

PTI