Jharkhand doctors stage demonstrations over Medical Protection Act, service conditions
Ranchi, Oct 14 (IANS/WISHAVWARTA) Doctors in Jharkhand launched a protest on Wednesday over a slew of demands concerning their safety and service conditions.
They staged demonstrations and wore black badges while on duty under the banner of the Indian Medical Association (IMA).
In Ranchi, hundreds of government and private doctors, along with junior and senior doctors, staged demonstrations at the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) and Sadar Hospital.
A delegation later submitted a memorandum listing their demands to the director’s office.
According to the IMA’s Jharkhand unit, the protest is mainly aimed at ensuring the safety of doctors and strengthening the state’s healthcare system.
Among their key demands are strict implementation of the Jharkhand Medical Protection Act, practical amendments to the Clinical Establishments Act, and introduction of Dynamic Assured Career Progression (DACP) for medical and dental practitioners and specialist doctors on the lines of the Centre and Bihar.
The doctors have also sought settlement of pending payments to hospitals under the Ayushman Bharat scheme, simplification of licensing and registration through a single-window system, improvements in the recruitment and service conditions of junior doctors, and safe workplaces for women doctors.
Medical organisations said the agitation was not directed against patients or healthcare services, but was intended to ensure doctors’ safety and better treatment for patients. Emergency and life-saving medical services remained fully operational during the protest.
According to a letter issued by the IMA, if the state government fails to take a positive initiative on their demands, doctors will hold a statewide protest across Jharkhand on October 21.
If the government still fails to take concrete steps, doctors across the state will be compelled to go on a complete work boycott from October 22, 2026.
Those present at Wednesday’s protest in Ranchi included IMA Jharkhand Secretary Dr Pradeep Singh, IMA HBI State Coordinator Dr Abhishek Ramadhin, Dr Shambhu Singh, Jharkhand Medical Service Association representatives Dr Ajit and Dr Stephen, Junior Doctors’ Association state president Dr Vikas, Dr Jaideep, and Jharkhand Health Employees Federation president Mohd Adil, besides a large number of doctors and healthcare workers.
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