Bihar govt asks striking PMCH junior doctors to resume duty

Patna, May 18: With the junior doctors' strike in Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) entering its fourth day, the state government today asked the medicos to resume duty or face action if they tried to create impediment in medical services at the premier hospital.

The state government was ready to hear the legitimate demand for their security at the PMCH, but can't accept the demand for removal of Principal Prof S N Sinha ... they should resume duty at the earliest or face action if they failed to do so, Principal Secretary (Health) R K Mahajan said.

Rejecting the agitating junior doctors' demand outrightly for removal of the PMCH Principal, he said in that case such a demand should have been made by the junior doctors before launching the strike, Mahajan said.

Making a fervent appeal to the junior doctors to resume duty in the larger interest of the patients, Mahajan said the state government was ready to sort out their outstanding grievances, but if they refused to heed, strict action would be taken as per rules.

It may be mentioned that junior doctors of the PMCH have been striking work for the past four days following clashes between the medicos and kins of some patients. Their colleagues in six out of eight government medical colleges in Bihar, barring Bettiah and Pawapuri, have also joined the stir pressing for security for the medicos.

As many as nine patients have died at the PMCH since the junior doctors went on strike paralysing medical services in the premier hospital, officials said.

Seeking to soothe the ruffled feathers of agitating doctors, Mahajan said both the doctors and kins of some patients have lodged FIR against each other and seven persons have been arrested in this connection.

PTI