Ranchi: Over 600 junior doctors of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), the largest government hospital in the state, are all set to boycott OPD duty from Friday evening demanding salaries according to recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission, but the state health authorities are not ready with an alternative plan to ease patient sufferings.

Secretary of health, medical education and family welfare department Nitin Madan Kulkarni said, “If they (junior doctors) don’t have faith in the government system, what to do?” He added that he would take adequate steps to “prevent the boycott”, but did not share what these could be. “Everything can’t be shared,” he said, parrying the question.

RIMS director Dr D.K. Singh, who on Thursday was out of station on personal work, when contacted on alternative arrangements, said, “I don’t think junior doctors will boycott the OPD. I have asked them not to do so till my return on Saturday.”

He also said their demands were justified. “If the file related to their salary has been sent to the government, I’d have started paying them in accordance with recommendations made by Seventh Pay Commission. A hike of 10 to 15 per cent at the intern level would not be a burden on the budget,” Dr Singh said.

Contrary to Dr Singh’s hopes, junior doctors — 450 postgraduates, 75 house surgeons and 100 senior residents — appeared adamant to boycott OPD from Friday second shift and continue their boycott on Saturday in both shifts.

“If this boycott does not yield results, we will go on hunger strike on Sunday and chalk out our further line of action to get our demand fulfilled. I know the boycott is likely to put around 2,000 patients coming from different parts of the state in trouble but what to do,” a junior doctor. He added if required they “may plan a parallel OPD”.

President of RIMS Doctors’ Association Dr Ajit Kumar justified the boycott saying they were getting “false assurances” from the government since June 3 last year.

“Last year on June 3, the health minister in presence of the chief secretary promised within 15 days our pay in line with Seventh Pay Commission recommendations. This was approved by the RIMS governing body on July 12 last year. But despite all this, we have not received one paisa extra in our account so far. In this situation, how can anyone rely on the assurance of authorities? Seems the government is not serious about health services in the state,” Dr Kumar said.