United Organisations • Common Agenda • Joint Action 

13 October, Ranchi: Doctors across Jharkhand have launched a statewide Black Badge Programme from October 13 to 20 under the banner of the IMA Jharkhand Joint Medical Movement, raising concerns over doctors’ safety, professional dignity, service-related issues and the need to strengthen the state’s healthcare system.

A joint meeting of representatives of medical organisations and a large number of government and private doctors was held through Google Meet on October 12. The participants unanimously decided to proceed with the previously announced democratic agitation programme.

Ten medical organisations are participating in the joint movement, including IMA Jharkhand State Branch, JHASA, IMA Hospital Board of India (IMA HBI), AHPI, IMA Women’s Wing, JDA, JDN, FAIMA, MSN and IDA.

The Common Minimum Programme of the movement includes demands for effective implementation of the Jharkhand Medical Protection Act, practical amendments to the Clinical Establishments Act, time-bound career progression for doctors under DACP, regular recruitment, resolution of issues concerning junior doctors and medical students, DACP for dental surgeons, resolution of Ayushman Bharat-related issues, a single-window licensing system for healthcare institutions and establishment of a joint monitoring mechanism between the government and medical organisations.

Special emphasis has also been placed on the safety and dignity of women doctors.

On October 14, participating medical organisations will hold joint press conferences at all district headquarters across Jharkhand. Following the press conferences, memoranda containing their demands will be submitted to the respective Deputy Commissioners (DCs). The organisations will seek administrative intervention on issues that can be resolved at the district level and request that state-level policy demands be forwarded to the competent authorities.

According to the previously announced agitation programme, a statewide protest will be held on October 21. In the event of no concrete action on their demands, a complete withdrawal of services has been proposed from October 22. The medical organisations have stressed that emergency and life-saving medical services must remain protected during the agitation.

The organisations have clarified that the movement is not against patients. They said its objective is to ensure a safe and dignified working environment for doctors while strengthening the healthcare system to provide better, safer and quality medical services to the people of Jharkhand.

The IMA Jharkhand Joint Medical Movement has appealed to the state government and concerned authorities to initiate positive dialogue with the medical fraternity and ensure time-bound action on their legitimate demands.