By Vishwapati
Patna: Junior doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) have gone on strike since this morning, citing non-payment of their honoraria for the past four months as the reason. The strike has led to chaos within the hospital premises and the surrounding area. Thousands of patients, many of whom travel from various districts, are being forced to return without treatment. The strike has caused significant disruption, leaving patients in dire straits.
The strike, which began on Friday, has severely impacted the hospital’s outpatient department (OPD) services. Patients arriving from distant locations are left wandering in search of treatment. While emergency services have been exempted from the strike, the absence of doctors in the OPD has disrupted the hospital’s normal operations. Junior doctors have stated that they have not received their stipends for the past four months, making it increasingly difficult for them to manage their living expenses in a city like Patna. They claim to have repeatedly raised the issue with concerned officials, but their pleas have been ignored. Left with no other recourse, they decided to initiate the strike.
A striking doctor remarked, “We serve patients day and night, but when our own basic needs are not met, what are we supposed to do? It has become impossible to survive without our stipends. The strike will continue until our demands are addressed.”
The suspension of OPD services has caused significant hardship for patients, particularly those travelling from remote areas. Many stand in long queues from early morning, only to discover that doctors are on strike, exacerbating their distress. An elderly patient, who had brought his ailing wife for treatment, expressed his frustration, saying, “We arrived from our village early in the morning, but there is no one here to attend to us. Can someone please tell us what we should do now?”
The PMCH administration has acknowledged the situation and stated that they are in discussions with the government to resolve the doctors’ demands as quickly as possible. An administration official commented, “We understand that the doctors’ demands are justified, but patient care remains our top priority. We are making every effort to resolve this strike at the earliest.”
This ongoing strike at PMCH has not only caused immense difficulties for patients but has also exposed systemic flaws in Bihar’s healthcare system. While junior doctors are striking for their legitimate rights, patients are left to suffer without access to essential medical care.
(The author, Vishwapati, is a senior journalist based in Patna. He may be contacted at vishwapati25@gmail.com)
