PMCH Junior Doctors Strike 2025: Health services at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), the largest government hospital in Bihar, came to a standstill on Tuesday after junior doctors launched an indefinite strike. The agitation, led by the Junior Doctors’ Association (JDA), has severely affected patient care, with only emergency services functioning. Outpatient services (OPD), wards, and operation theatres (OT) remain shut.
Why Are PMCH Junior Doctors Striking?
The junior doctors stated that they have been raising their concerns with the government for the past two years, but no action has been taken. Their main demands include:
- Bond service period reduction: Reduce the bond service period to just one year.
- Salary hike: Increase salaries of senior resident doctors in proportion to workload.
- Merit-based posting: Ensure bond postings are done based on merit and specialization.
- Counting waiting period: Include the waiting time between result declaration and posting in the bond period.
- Salary protection on resignation: Ensure earned salary is not taken back if a doctor resigns before completing the bond period.
- Bond service as residency experience: Count bond service as part of senior residency experience.
Patients in Distress
Every day, thousands of patients from Patna and nearby districts depend on PMCH for affordable healthcare. With the strike in effect, patients are forced to wait outside wards and OPDs without medical attention.
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Relatives of seriously ill patients expressed frustration, saying they are being left with no choice but to spend heavily in private hospitals.
For many families from rural Bihar, PMCH is the only hope for low-cost treatment. The absence of doctors in wards and operation theatres has delayed surgeries, left beds vacant, and created panic among those waiting for urgent care.
Join NEET News 2025 The strike has particularly hit poor patients who cannot afford private medical facilities, putting their lives at risk.
Read Also: State wise Bond for NEET UG 2025: Amount, Stipend, Penalty, Fees in PDF etc
Warning from Doctors
Junior doctors have made it clear that if the government fails to respond within 14 days, they will escalate the strike by withdrawing from emergency services as well.
Such a move could lead to a complete collapse of healthcare at PMCH, endangering the lives of critical patients such as accident victims, heart patients, and those requiring immediate surgeries.
Doctors also highlighted that their strike is not just about personal benefits but about creating a fair working environment.
They warned that unless their issues are addressed, the shortage of doctors in government hospitals will worsen, directly impacting healthcare delivery in Bihar.
Government’s Response
So far, the Bihar government has not released an official statement on the strike. While health department officials are monitoring the situation, no formal talks have been initiated with the protesting doctors.
The silence from the administration has further angered the junior doctors, who feel neglected despite repeatedly raising their concerns.
Political observers believe that the state government cannot afford to delay discussions, as PMCH is the backbone of healthcare in Bihar.
Without swift negotiations, the crisis could escalate into a statewide protest by medical professionals, causing widespread disruption in government hospitals.
