For the fourth consecutive time, Dhanbad-based Dr AK Singh has been elected as the state president of Indian Medical Association (IMA).

Dr Singh defeated his rival Dr RK Agarwal from Ranchi by a margin of 48 votes. He secured 96 votes, while Dr Agarwal could fetch only 48 votes during the election that was held at Ranchi today. Bokaro-based Dr RK Srivastava, with 40 votes secured the third position.

Singh, a retired doctor from Dhanbad-based subsidiary of Coal India Limited (CIL) earlier also served as the president of Dhanbad unit of IMA for several years.

Talking to The Telegraph Online after his win, Dr. Singh said, ‘The implementation of the medical protection act in the state will be a top priority for me. The state government has also made some preparations to pass the bill during the present Assembly session.”

The medical protection Act will help avert incidents of violence taking place at different hospitals and clinics across the state. Sometimes the goons on the pretext of a patient’s death while undergoing treatment settle scores with the hospital management.

“We at the same time will also demand the state government to bring an amendment in the Clinical Establishment Act of Jharkhand on the line of Clinical Establishment Act of Haryana to favour the small clinics situated in the remote areas. It is very difficult for them to meet the standard prescribed in Act like minimum requirement of having a generator and air conditioner,” said Singh. He added that the state government is positively considering their demand.

“We will also demand to make necessary preparations to cope with the impending Covid 19 third wave by gearing up the state machinery including designating the hospitals and equipping the hospital with necessary infrastructure to treat Covid patients.”