Thursday, January 6 2005 20:43 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called a 24-hour medical strike across Bihar from tomorrow (Jan 7, 2005) midnight to press for the release of noted Orthopaedic surgeon Dr U K Raja from Purnea as health services remained paralysed in four districts of the Kosi belt for the fourth day today (Jan 6, 2005).

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of office bearers of IMA (Bihar) today, its secretary Dr Sahajanand told sources in Patna.

Sahajanand said barring the emergency services in both Government and private hospitals, all other services, including the outpatients departments would remain closed.

"We have decided to keep emergency services out of the strike's purview in larger public interest", Sahajanand said and added the members would hold a two-hour dharna in front of Jayaprakash Narayan's statue near Gandhi Maidan tomorrow to register their protest against Raja's kidnapping.

Meanwhile, health services continued to be hit for the fourth day in Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul and Purnea districts with the Government and private doctors abstaining from work.

The Government and private doctors of these districts are on an indefinite strike since January 3 at the call of their respective IMA district units.

Emergency services have, however, been kept out of the purview of the strike, he said.

Raja was kidnapped by gunmen on New Year's Day when he along with his family members was on way from Madhepura to Purnea where he was posted at the Sadar hospital.

Doctors across Bihar had brought to a halt health service for a week in last November following the killing of Dr N K Agarwal in the State capital on Diwali evening.