Members of Indian Medical Association stage a dharna in Motihari on Saturday. Picture by Ajit Kumar Verma

Motihari, Jan. 22: Members of the Motihari chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), including several eminent doctors of the city, staged a daylong dharna near Shourya Sthal here today to protest the anti-patient attitude of the Centre.

The IMA members were protesting certain resolutions of the central government, including the dissolution of the Medical Council of India (MCI), implementation of the Clinical Establishment Act, implementation of the bachelors in rural health course and imposition of ban over the practice of the national president and secretary of the IMA.

Addressing the doctors, seniormost physician Dr Shambhu Sharan said the government decision was against public interest, as it was sure to reduce the quality and working capabilities of the doctors.

President of IMA’s Motihari chapter, Dr C.B. Singh, said the implementation of the “Clinical Establishment Act” would lead to maintenance costs of hospitals and nursing homes increase and finally turning them inaccessible for patients of lower or middle-income groups.

Speaking about the implementation of the proposed bachelors in rural health course Dr Neeraj Sinha told The Telegraph the course would not only leave the rural patients at the mercy of incompetent doctors but indirectly encourage the quacks in rural areas.

Addressing the members, leading cardiologist Dr Parvez said the ban over the practice of the national president and secretary of IMA is nothing short of a derogatory act with the coveted posts of doctors.

IMA secretary Dr Dilip Kumar, Dr D. Nath, Dr A.C. Sinha, Dr U.S. Pathak, Dr Rakesh Kumar Singh, Dr U.N. Simgh, Dr Atul Kumar, Dr R.K.P. Shahi, Dr K. Alam, Dr Brajesh Kumar Singh, Dr Kumar Surendra, Dr P.K.Verma, Dr Sunil Kumar, Dr Om Prakash, Dr Manjula Nath, Dr Pushkar Kumar Singh, Dr Ashok Kumar, Dr Sanjay Kumar, Dr A.K. Choudhary, Dr Vijay, Dr Vishwa Jyoti and Dr Swasti Sinha were among the doctors who took part in today’s dharna.