Patna: Outpatient Department (OPD) services in all government hospitals across Bihar are suspended today due to a statewide strike called by the Bihar Health Services Association (BHSA). Doctors will not be attending to patients in OPDs, leading to significant disruption in healthcare.

This decision comes in protest against the alleged assault on Arwal Civil Surgeon Dr. Rajkishore Prasad. According to BHSA General Secretary Dr. Rohit Kumar, the association had given the administration 72 hours to take action against the perpetrators, but no satisfactory steps were taken. Following this, the BHSA decided to boycott OPD services.

An FIR has been lodged against 12 individuals, including former MLA Mahanand Singh, in connection with the assault on the Civil Surgeon. The incident stems from an event on July 17 at Arwal Sadar Hospital, where a pregnant patient, Ragini Kumari from Fakharpur village, died after a C-section delivery. Her family members reportedly created a ruckus at the hospital, during which the Civil Surgeon was allegedly attacked.

The BHSA has warned of a larger agitation if their demands for doctors' safety are not met promptly. This strike is expected to cause considerable inconvenience to patients across the state.