Strike cripples medical services in Ranchi hospital

RANCHI - The strike by junior doctors and nurses at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Science (RIMS) here for the past four days has paralysed medical services, leading to the death of 41 patients.

According to sources in RIMS, more than 41 patients have died for lack of treatment and more than 300 patients have been shifted to other hospitals.

Talks between the administration and the striking doctors and nurses Friday night failed to break the deadlock.

Now the RIMS administration is planning to invoke provisions of the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) to beat the strike back. “We are planning to impose ESMA.” said RIMS director A.K. Mahato to reporters.

The first to go on strike were trained nurses Aug 17. They have sought acceptance by the authorities of their six-point charter of demands, including grant to them of wages recommended by the Sixth Pay Commission and a nurses service code in Jharkhand.

The junior doctors went on strike Aug 19, demanding a medical protection act after some of them beat up Amit Mahto, a leader of Jharkhand Vikas Morcha-Prajatantrik (JVM-P) Aug 17 when he had gone to meet a patient at the RIMS.

Amit Mahto lodged an FIR against the doctors. The junior doctors apprehending arrest of their colleagues went on strike.

Governor M.O.H. Farook has asked officials to take measures to end the nurses’ and doctors’ strike.

According to a RIMS official, “No major operations were conducted in the hospital for the last four days.”

“The strike will continue till the government takes initiative to ensure the security of the doctors,” said Kundan Kumar, a doctor on strike.