Bihar: Junior Doctors Go on Strike, Demand Promised Increase in Stipend

Patna: More than a thousand junior doctors of government-run medical colleges and hospitals in Bihar were on strike on Wednesday demanding an increase of their monthly stipend.

According to the striking junior doctors association, junior doctors from Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and eight other medical colleges and hospitals are on strike, demanding that their stipend be increased. The Resident Doctors’ Association has extended its support to the strike by the junior doctors.

Junior doctors at the PMCH and NMCH in Patna were on strike since early morning on Wednesday. Health services, including OPD and emergency services, were affected. A similar situation was reported from other medical colleges and hospitals.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, some senior doctors were available for COVID-19 patients in the hospitals.

Dr. Hatendar Kumar, president of PMCH junior doctors association said that their stipend had not increased since 2017.The state government has assured junior doctors three years ago that it would increase their stipend once every three years. “The year is almost over but our stipend has not been increased so far,” he said.

The striking junior doctors association has warned that it will not end the strike till their demands were fulfilled by the government. “We will withdraw the strike if we are provided with a written assurance by the government,” he added.

Due to a shortage of senior doctors, junior doctors have played their part in managing the situation at government-run hospitals since the COVID-19 outbreak. However, the government has ignored their demands, forcing them to go on strike, Mritunjay, a doctor from Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital said.

Bihar health minister Mangal Pandey is yet to invite striking doctors for talks to end the strike.