Principal Secretary (Health) Vyasji has invited the striking PMCH junior doctors for talks so that a solution could be worked out to end their strike, Additional Secretary (Health) R P Ojha told reporters.
Though the state government did not interfere in the functioning of the hospitals, its doors were open for the striking junior doctors for talks so that their legitimate demands could be resolved and the medical facilities at the premier hospital normalized, he said.
Ojha said 75 doctors of the Bihar Health Service from other districts have been asked to report for duty at the PMCH for the time being and senior doctors there directed to attend to patients in the wards in view of the strike.
Stating that it had been noticed the striking doctors were preventing other medicos from working, he said the department might take help of the police to ensure adequate medical services and manpower at the hospital.
He said the Principal Secretary (Health) has spoken to the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Amrit Raj and requested him to make security arrangements in the hospital.
The attendance record of the striking doctors was also being maintained so that action could be taken against them if they failed to report for duty in larger public interest, Ojha said, adding that the state government maintained its appeal to them to resume their duties.
The main demand of the junior doctors was removal of PMCH superintendent O.P. Chaudhary as, they said, they were feeling insecure during duty because of his administrative 'incompetence'.