From unfulfilled summer holiday plans to faltering payment of children’s school fees — the 1,200 and odd contract doctors had it all in the past four months.

Amitabh Sinha, a cardiologist on contract with Indira Gandhi Institute of Cardiology, said he was not getting his salary since February. “You can imagine the situation of doctors who are posted at primary health centres and referral hospitals in the districts. ” said Sinha, the president of the Bihar State Contract Doctors’ Association, which has at least 1,300 members.

At least 80 per cent of 1,500 and odd doctors on contract across 30 districts have been hit by the recent non-payment of salary. “I could not pay my son’s school fees in the last three months. Janwar se bhi badtar sthiti hai, kisi aur state mein 40 ke age mein kaam nahi milega (My situation is worse than that of animals. We won’t get a job in any other state at the age of 40),” Sinha rued.

Sonepur referral hospital medical officer Abhishek Kumar Sinha, the general secretary of the Contract Doctors’ Association, which has some 200 members, said he was forced to take a Rs 1-lakh loan as he had not been paid since March.

Patna civil surgeon Lakhendra Prasad said: “Allotment has been given to the medical officers-in-charge, who double as drawing and disbursing officers. Only they know whether they disbursed salary to the doctors or not.”

Darbhanga strike

The second day of junior doctors’ indefinite strike paralysed services at Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital on Wednesday as several patients had to be turned away.