In a retaliatory step, doctors in Jamshedpur have blamed the administration for the problems plaguing the doctors and patients.
As per the editor of the Journal of Indian Medical Association (IMA), Surendra Daga, and state secretary of the Indian Medical Association, Ajay Kumar Singh, and about 100 doctors, the recent rise of violence against doctors is because of the government’s negligent attitude towards the health sector.Doctors said, “The rise in cases of assault on doctors and ransacking of hospitals by relatives of patients who die in these clinics is because of the poor infrastructure in the government (health) institutions,”
“The government is making big promises of improving health care facilities. But in reality, the present infrastructure is poorer than what it used to be 30 years ago. This is the universal truth for every state; be it Bengal, Jharkhand or Rajasthan,” they said.
The cases against doctors under the Consumer Protection Act are also a result of the government’s unhealthy attitude towards the health sector, he argued. “Ministers make wild promises of providing facilities matching the best health centres in the world at a hospital that does not have even the most basic equipment. And when a patient dies during treatment, political parties make it an issue and a case is lodged against the doctor concerned.”
“With the present population in Jharkhand, it should have at least seven medical colleges. But we have just three colleges and all of them are in the line of fire of the Medical Council of India. The colleges are in such a bad shape that their affiliation might get cancelled any day,” said Mr. Singh.
