In Bihar, indefinite strike has been called by hundreds of junior medicos and has made healthcare services crippled in all nine government-run medical colleges and hospitals. The worst-hit were the Patna Medical College and Hospital and Nalanda Medical College and Hospital where patients were allegedly seen wandering clueless.

The strike was called in support of their long-pending demands. Dr Ravi Ranjan, coordinator of Bihar Junior Doctors Association said that 50 to 60 per cent hike in the stipend for postgraduate and undergraduate courses is one of the most prominent ones among other demands, which has not given any attention.

Healthcare services are provided to over 1 lakh patients every day both in outdoor and emergency wards in these nine government-run medical colleges and hospitals in Bihar. Besides this, medicos are also determined with their demand for increasing upper age limit for senior resident posts from 37 years to 45 years in order to enable the betterment of health services.

A junior medico said that permission should be given to the PG passed out medicos who are selected for super speciality courses or any fellowship, to pursue higher education and thereafter complete 3 years rural bond courses.

The medicos who are on strike have also demanded filling up of existing vacancies in all the faculties in colleges. The emergency services in all medical colleges are exempted from the strike.