Healthcare services at government hospitals across Bihar came to a standstill on Monday as over 4,000 doctors began a two-day strike to protest against the state government’s alleged aversion to their six-point demands. At least two patients died due to lack of medical attention. The strike by 2,500 permanent and 1,500 contractual doctors led by the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) became effective on Monday midnight after negotiations with the government failed. Healthca-re services at the emergency care units, OPDs and indoor wards of almost all government hospitals across Bihar were totally disrupted as doctors stayed off work. Contingency measures arranged by the government at the PHCs by roping in Ayush doctors failed to handle the rush of patients, according to reports reaching from the districts. A child gravely injured in a road accident in Khagaria was rushed to the district hospital but lack of medical attention there led to his death , said his mother Rihana Khatun. Khagaria civil surgeon Dr Dinabandhu Sharma, however, denied lack of medical attention.
***
Daimary uses satellite phone in Assam jail?
MANOJ ANAND
Guwahati, Jan. 15
In what has raised serious question in security circles, the outlawed NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary has been allowed to use satellite phone in judicial custody in order to avoid a split in the outfit.
Disclosing that NDFB chief Ranjan Daimary who is languishing in central jail of Guwahati since his arrest and handing over by Bangladesh authorities, security sources in the central jail told this newspaper that earlier Daimary was using mobile phone but now he has been facilitated with a satellite phone by some security agencies.
Admitting that it was against the jail manual, security sources said that the government was keen on starting peace-talks with Ranjan Daimary faction of NDFB but it was delayed because of the rift that is present in the outfit.