Jharkhand health minister Banna Gupta on Wednesday felicitated at least 45 ophthalmologists of the state for their relentless effort to help Covid patients and their families during the pandemic.

Addressing the felicitation ceremony organised by the Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society in Ranchi, Gupta reiterated the state government's commitment to implement the Medical Protection Act (MPA) for safety of healthcare professionals and doctors in Jharkhand.

“The issue of the Medical Protection Act has been raised in the State Assembly as well. We have been studying existing laws of four states to implement a similar law in our state. I have had a discussion with the Additional Chief Secretary (Health) on the issue. I assure the doctors of Jharkhand that we will soon bring the Medical Protection Act in our state,” said Gupta, adding that any attack on doctors would be seen as an attack on the prestige and pride of the state.

Lauding the efforts of "Covid warrior" doctors during the first and second wave of ter pandemic, Gupta said he had to wear a PPE kit during the course of his work for a few minutes and in that brief amount of time, he realised how challenging it was to wear such protective gears for several hours.

“It is the good work of doctors and their coordination with the government that helped the state to beat Covid-19 during the second wave, for which Jharkhand has been hailed by one and all," said Gupta.

Dr Bharti Kashyap, secretary, Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society, pleaded that fast track courts be set up to punish all those found guilty of assaulting doctors and caregivers to ensure speedy justice.

"These brave ophthalmologists, abandoned their comfort zones, transcended professional boundaries and put their own lives at risk to ensure that people in distress got all the necessary help to fight the second wave of Covid-19. Even at the peak of the pandemic, there were many cases of violence against doctors and medical personnel. Even women health care professionals were not spared. We need fast track courts and Medical Protection Act in our state to ensure safety of our doctors,” said Dr. Kashyap.

Those felicitated included Dr Nagendra Pandit, Dr Bharat Singh, Dr Priyanka Priydarshi, Dr Ashima N R Tigga, Dr Preetish Pronoy, Dr Sarwar Alam, Dr Smita Anand, Dr Tanisha Ojha, Dr. Pinki Pal, Dr. Neha Shilpy, Dr. Sarojini Murmu, Dr. Bibha Kumari, Dr. Kumari Reena Singh, Dr. Vivek Kumar, Dr Shilpa Sanjeeta Singh, Dr. Shakti Nath Singh and Dr. Pallavi Purnima Singh.

The health minister also presented shawls and mementos to the kin of doctors who died on the line of duty during the pandemic. Families of Dr.Krishna Murari Sahu, Dr.Sujit Kumar Paul and Dr.Chandrika Kishore Thakur, all eminent doctors of the state, who had fallen victim to the Corona pandemic were felicitated.

Gold medals were conferred upon Dr.Bibhuti Kashyap, for the Dr.V.S.Gupta Best Free Paper and Dr.Rahul Prasad for the Manjul Pant Best Video Session at the virtual conference of Jharkhand Ophthalmological Society organised in 2020. Dr.Lalit Jain was felicitated for his Extramural Oration at the annual conference.