The Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA) on Sunday said contract doctors in the state might go on an indefinite strike after March 10 to press for regularisation of services among other demands.

This was decided at a joint meeting of the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA), Bihar State Contract Doctors’ Association, Contract Doctors’ Association and the Bihar chapter of Indian Medical Association in the city.

“We don’t want the strike to evoke lukewarm response. We will call the strike after full planning. We will organise a meeting on March 10 to finalise our course of action,” said Dr Ajay Kumar, the general secretary of the BHSA.

A BHSA office bearer said the association had called off its two-day strike midway on January 15 following the health department’s written assurance to regularise services of 1,500 contract doctors on the basis of walk-in interviews. But the department later said their services would be regularised next year.

“The department also said the contract doctors would have to take the Bihar Public Service Commission examination on February 16. The 600 contract doctors, who have got the admit cards for the test, will boycott the examination,” Dr Kumar said. “We want regularisation of the contract doctors without any condition,” he added.

Bihar State Contract Doctors’ Association president Dr Amitabh said: “Most of us work in villages where there is no electricity and library. How can we study and take the examination? If we are unable to do our job, then why is the government taking our services?”