4,000 doctors on strike, hospitals struggle under patient load

Dr T P Lahane, Dean at state-run J J hospital, said that 413 resident doctors are on strike and 700 senior level doctors have been called on duty to ensure that no patient is discharged or surgeries postponed due to lack of staff at JJ hospital.  “So far we have been able to attend patients on OPD basis and all surgeries are happening as per schedule,” he said.

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Dr Sagar Mundada, President of Medical Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) — a body that regulates the resident doctors and their demands across Maharashtra — said the strike will continue until a written assurance or government resolution is passed by the medical education department promising to fullfill their demands.

While medical education minister Vinod Tawde, Wednesday, tweeted that all demands have been positively accepted by the government following a meeting with members of MARD, the resident doctors claim a similar meeting took place on June 12 with no outcome and only “verbal assurances”.

The 10 long pending demands presented by MARD revolve around bond issues, leaves, stipend and security problems.

The doctors demand for at least two months leave for both, pregnancy and tuberculosis treatment. “Doctors in public hospitals contract the infectious disease and need ample rest for TB medications to work. Currently our stipend is cut if we take leave,” Mundada said.

Another demand is to increase security for on duty doctors to avoid cases of assault by family members. This includes installation of CCTV cameras.

The MARD has also demanded an increase in stipend. “Our stipend was supposed to increase every three years following a GR. While tution fees increases after every three years, the government has not kept its word to increase the stipend,” Mundada added.

mumbai.newsline@expressindia.com