Doctors call off strike in three Saran districts

SIWAN: Health services in three districts of Saran division limped back to normalcy after a joint forum of different associations of doctors, including the Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Bihar State Health Services Association (BSHSA), called off their strike on Tuesday.
The joint forum took the decision after Siwan DM Ranjita accepted their demand of taking punitive action against a police constable who had allegedly thrashed Dr Alok Kumar of sadar hospital at Siwan.Medical practitioners from three districts in Saran division had gone on an indefinite strike on Monday after the incident, paralysing health services in Saran, Siwan and Gopalganj districts.
A delegation of state level IMA and BSHSA officials also met director general of police Gupteshwar Pandey, demanding action against the policeman.
President of Siwan chapter of IMA Dr Shashi Bhushan said the decision to call off the strike was taken unanimously after a meeting with the DM and the SP.
“The administration has assured us of taking stern action against the erring cop. Even an FIR has been lodged against him. The erring constable has also been arrested,” Dr Bhushan said.
Civil surgeons of three districts said health services were badly affected due to the strike. Dr Ashesh Kumar, civil surgeon of Siwan, said the services in the emergency, post mortem house and outdoor patient department (OPD) in all government and private health facilities came to a halt due to the strike.