Patna: Services at Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH) were thrown into disarray on Wednesday after an argument between junior doctors and a patient’s relatives escalated into a physical confrontation, prompting a strike that crippled the emergency ward and disrupted OPD services.
The altercation broke out around 10am when attendants arrived with a patient from Sultanganj. A dispute reportedly began at the registration gate after a trolleyman allegedly demanded Rs 250 to provide a trolley. The disagreement spilled into the triage area, where junior doctors told the attendants that complaints about non-medical staff should be taken to the administration.
The situation quickly worsened, leading to a scuffle between the two sides. Police arrived within minutes and detained members of the patient’s family. In response, junior doctors walked out of the emergency ward and abandoned their duties across the hospital.
Apology ends standoff
With patients left waiting outside the emergency ward and queues swelling through the day, hospital administrators rushed to defuse the crisis. PMCH principal Kaushal Kishore and superintendent IS Thakur met representatives of the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), led by president Satyam Kumar.
The JDA agreed to resume duties late on Wednesday night after the patient’s family submitted a written apology. “The incident is unfortunate,” superintendent Thakur said, adding that police action was underway. “After discussions and an apology, the doctors have agreed to return to work.”
Patients bear the brunt
For several hours, patients and attendants were left without care. Some were unable even to have their cases registered. “We have been running around since morning,” said Arvind Kumar, whose relative was admitted to the emergency ward. “No doctor was available, and we were not even allowed to see the patient.”
Others complained of delayed treatment and confusion. “We are poor people,” said Nutan Devi, who brought her husband for treatment of breathing problems. “Instead of getting help, we were harassed.”
Longstanding complaints resurface
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The clash has revived longstanding complaints about mismanagement inside the hospital. Allegations of trolleymen demanding money to move patients and frequent scuffles between guards, attendants and doctors have surfaced repeatedly.
The JDA has previously flagged the shortage of trolleys in the emergency room. Though the service provider’s contract was reportedly terminated in November, the agency continues to operate, raising questions about oversight.
The Health Department had earlier ordered an improved triage system—with dedicated doctors, health managers, technicians and pharmacists—but most staff posted there were withdrawn after six weeks, leaving only the doctor and manager.
As normalcy slowly returned on Wednesday night, questions about PMCH’s staffing, security and patient management systems remained unanswered.
