Bihar government today took action against eight doctors of PMCH for allegedly remaining unavailable when stampede victims were brought there on October 3, triggering protest from the doctors' associations who threatened agitation if the order was not revoked within a week.
Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) Superintendent Lakhinder Prasad was suspended and its Principal S N Sinha was given his duty as additional charge, Health Secretary Anand Kishore said.
Four doctors of Assistant Professor rank of Surgery, Urology and Orthopaedics were transferred outside Patna, while the Heads of Department of Orthopaedics, Surgery and Urology were served show cause notice, Kishore said.
The suspension and other actions have been taken after approval of Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and Health Minister Ramdhani Singh, he said.
Kishore said departmental inquiry would be carried against the doctors of the hospital.
A meeting of the Bihar chapter of Indian Medical Association and Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) described the government's action as 'injustice' and sought revocation of the order.
"If the government did not withdraw the suspension and punitive action against the doctors, we will call a meeting of doctors of the entire state to decide launching an agitation," IMA senior vice president Shahjanand Singh told PTI.
BHSA general secretary Ajay Kumar said, "Instead of praising the PMCH doctors for rendering good service after the stampede, they have been punished."
The chief minister, however, justified the decision.
"As a CM I have accepted responsibility and has tried to give a lesson (to the doctors)," Manjhi told reporters at Patna Airport on return from Aurangabad.
Manjhi, during a surprise visit to the PMCH on Sunday evening to meet the Dussehra stampede victims, had found doctors unavailable in the Emergency Ward which also wore a filthy look.
Besides, several medicines were said to be unavailable.
When Manjhi had sought to meet the Superintendent Lakhinder Prasad, he was not around.
Altogether 33 people were killed and 29 injured in a stampede outside the Gandhi Maidan after Dussehra festival on October 3.
