Resident doctors call a strike, say they will only handle emergency services; hospitals cancel routine surgeries, prepare to handle patients
Resident doctors affiliated to MARD at JJ hospital stage a protest. File pic
Patient care services in government and civic hospitals may get derailed today as 7,000 resident doctors across the state have decided to go on a mass leave over their demands. Maharashtra State Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has decided to stop all services with the exception of emergency services. In view of the call for strike, hospitals have made special arrangements to deal with the situation.
Resident doctors have been in correspondence with the government for years over their demands which include equal pay and dearness allowance. As the government is not paying heed, they have once again resorted to mass leave. Central MARD President Dr Avinash Dahipale said, “We have to take this step to make the government wake up. We had warned them a week ago that if our demands were not met, we would go on a mass strike, but no one from the government has started a discussion with us yet.”
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Hospitals ready
Almost all the government and civic-run hospitals have postponed routine surgeries. Civic-run KEM, Nair, Sion and Cooper hospitals as well as government-run Sir JJ hospital have made preparations to deal with the situation.
Dr Sangeeta Rawat, dean of KEM Hospital, said, “All routine surgeries have been postponed. The heads of the departments, assistant-associate professors, and senior doctors will handle the outpatient department and wards.” Dr Mohan Joshi, dean of Sion hospital which sees around 7,000 people visit the OPD daily, said, “Care will be taken to ensure patients are attended to.”
Doctors’ demands
>> Creation of 1,432 posts for senior resident doctors
>> Vacant posts of Associate and Assistant Professors should be filled immediately
>> Dearness allowance should be given
>> Implementation of equal pay for all resident doctors
>> Removal of disparity in the pay of senior resident doctors.
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