Patna: Junior doctors at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) have gone on strike, suspending both outpatient and emergency services, after a violent altercation with the family of a deceased patient. The disruption has forced more than 2,800 patients to leave without treatment over the past two days, with around 100 new patients unable to secure admission.
The conflict erupted on Wednesday morning following the death of 70-year-old Suresh Singh, who had been admitted to PMCH three days earlier with a brain haemorrhage. According to his son, Aman Singh, the family’s request for additional attention sparked a confrontation with hospital staff. “Mother is a heart patient, she is not getting treatment here,” he said, describing the ordeal.
Aman Singh alleged that a doctor physically assaulted his sister, hitting her hand during the argument, a claim he says is recorded on video. In response, junior doctors have claimed that family members, including female doctors on duty at the hospital’s IGCC unit, were attacked with helmets, sticks, and rods. Both sides have filed complaints with local police, who are currently investigating.
The Junior Doctors Association (JDA) of PMCH has demanded immediate security measures, automatic institutional FIR registration in cases of violence against healthcare workers, and stricter enforcement of existing laws to prevent attacks in medical institutions. The association has stated the strike will continue until these demands are met.
Doctors say such incidents have become increasingly frequent due to inadequate hospital security, prompting their call for systemic changes. Hospital authorities have not yet released a statement addressing the strike or the allegations of assault.
Patients seeking care at PMCH are now facing severe inconvenience, with reports of delays and overcrowding in other regional hospitals as a result of the disruption.
