Dhanbad: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the Jharkhand Health Services Association (JHSA) have strongly condemned the attack on Dr. A.K. Lal, a Jamshedpur-based doctor, and have called for the immediate implementation of the Medical Protection Act (MPA) to safeguard healthcare professionals and ensure uninterrupted medical services across the state.
In a joint statement, IMA state secretary Dr. Pradeep Kumar Singh and JHSA president Dr. P.P. Sah expressed deep concern over the assault on Dr. Lal at Tara Seva Sadan Nursing Home, highlighting the growing safety concerns for doctors while providing care to patients.
Demand for MPA Implementation
“It is high time for Jharkhand to implement the MPA to protect medical professionals and ensure smooth health services,” stated Dr. Singh and Dr. Sah. They urged Chief Minister Hemant Soren to fulfill his previous commitment to the MPA, which he had supported when he was the Leader of the Opposition.
Details of the Incident
On Sunday, family members of a discharged patient attacked Dr. A.K. Lal at Tara Seva Sadan Nursing Home. Dr. Lal, who is also the IMA Vice-President for the Kolhan Division, was injured in the assault. According to Dr. Singh, the patient had been discharged earlier that day, satisfied with Dr. Lal’s treatment. However, hours later, four to five relatives of the patient returned and assaulted the doctor.
Call for Immediate Action
Dr. Singh and Dr. Sah urged the immediate arrest of the assailants and called for security measures to be provided to Dr. Lal, a retired civil surgeon from Jamshedpur. They emphasized that the situation in cities like Jamshedpur and Dhanbad is deteriorating, with doctors facing increasing challenges in performing their duties safely.
Additionally, Jamshedpur IMA secretary Dr. Saurabh Choudhary has called on the local administration to take swift action against the perpetrators.
IMA and JHSA have also reiterated the need for the prompt implementation of the MPA to ensure that doctors in the state can work without fear of violence or harassment.
