Bihar’s junior doctors resume work

PATNA - Junior doctors of two government-run hospitals in Bihar resumed work Sunday following a 12-day strike over an increase in their stipend, officials said.

Around 500 junior doctors of the premier Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and 250 junior doctors of the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (DMCH) got back to work after they called off their strike Saturday evening.

They ended their protest following an assurance that the state government will pay the increased stipend promised to them in August, officials said.

“Normal functioning of the hospitals started with the junior doctors resuming their work,” a health department official said.

The doctors had struck work for 12 days, demanding payment of the increased stipend that was promised to them earlier. Emergency services were hit and dozens of surgeries had to be postponed.

Hospital authorities had sought the help of the health department to cope with the situation and had asked for 100 doctors from various parts of the state.

The striking doctors had resolved to continue their protest despite the state human rights commission’s threat to file criminal cases against them.

An official said the state government has submitted to the rights panel a list of over 100 patients who have reportedly died due to lack of treatment during the strike.