This story is from June 24, 2019

Bihar doctors pool in money to pay for private armies

Long before the attack on doctors in Kolkata grabbed headlines, private clinics in Muzaffarpur found a way to ensure their safety.
Bihar doctors pool in money to pay for private armies
The quick-reaction team has 25 men on duty during the day and about 15 at night
MUZAFFARPUR: Long before the attack on doctors in Kolkata grabbed headlines, private clinics in Muzaffarpur found a way to ensure their safety. While the city’s bigger hospitals and medical college had their own security guards, two years ago the smaller establishments pooled funds to hire a mobile “quickreaction team” or QRT that includes gunmen, bodybuilders and young men with lathis who are on call 24x7.
It’s no surprise that while almost 100 children have died in Muzaffarpur during the recent AES outbreak, there has been no violence against doctors.
“At a police station there are 6-8 constables who are overburdened with primary duties, including traffic control and crime. How can they save a doctor who is being attacked? They often come after the incident when the clinic has been vandalised or the doctor beaten up,” said Dr C B Singh of the Indian Medical Association in Motihari, where the same security model has been adopted.
In Muzaffarpur, 50-60 hospitals, nursing homes and clinics pay Rs 10,000 every month for the QRT that comprises mostly retired army men and personnel from paramilitary forces like the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). “There are also older people of retired subedar rank who are cool-headed and know how to control the crowd without antagonising it. The gunmen and those with lathis are more for show of strength,” said Dr Sanjay Kumar of IMA’s Muzaffarpur chapter.
The QRT has 25 men on duty during the day and about 15 at night. They have been provided 13 motorcycles so that they can reach a spot within 5-10 minutes of a call. Sadan Mohan, who started the QRT in 2017 after retiring from the navy, said they have not had to use force even once in Muzaffarpur. “Most of the cases happen after a patient dies and the family demands the bill be waived. My QRT has been trained to ensure the situation doesn’t escalate and a mob doesn’t collect. When they see that the doctor has strong backing, they calm down,” said Mohan. His security agency now protects doctors in Sitamarhi and Motihari as well.
Muzaffarpur is a major medical hub for patients from across north Bihar. The QRT’s cover has encouraged more doctors to open clinics in the traditional “doctors’ market” of Juran Chapra and Imli Chatti where over 500 doctors run hospitals, clinics and nursing homes in a 1.5km stretch. “It gives a greater sense of security and it’s easier for the QRT to reach a spot,” said Dr Kumar.
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