Nearly 4,000 resident doctors have stayed away from work since Monday, demanding enhanced security in the wake of a string of attacks on their colleagues by patients' relatives at government hospitals across the state.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday appealed to the resident doctors in the state to call off their strike and assured them that the government would ensure their security in hospitals.
Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly on the ongoing strike and its fallout on the public healthcare system, Fadnavis urged the doctors to follow their professional ethics by serving the people.
Expressing that "enough is enough", he questioned as to why offences should not be registered against doctors when people are losing their lives as a reason of their strike. The CM told doctors that the govt would not be a silent spectator. "Even the HC told doctors to end the strike but even after this, if they do not resume work then we cannot wait more to take strict actions. It's shameful to look at the insensitiveness of doctors. Today I will take a last meeting with doctors requesting them to resume work. Otherwise actions for negligence will be taken by govt as patients are suffering. Now in the last meeting, if doctors don't comply to their oath to treat patients, legal action will be taken, it is high time"
"Because of the acts of a few irresponsible people of attacking doctors, it is not right to deny the poor their right to access to the medical facilities. I appeal to the doctors and their organisations to call off the strike and return to work," he said.
The government had spoken to representatives of the striking doctors and accepted all their demands, he said.
"Attacks on doctors is not accepted. If patients are not satisfied with treatment, they should approach senior officers and complain. Govt will provide 700 security personnel in 5 days and more in the next few days. We will also undertake security audits in hospitals, strict access rules, the doctors who are attached with be treated by govt all required commitments given."
"The state has enacted special laws to protect doctors. The quantum of punishment has been increased and attacks on doctors made a non-bailable offence," he said.
"The laws need continous upgradation and the government is open to discussion," he added. "We will try to see that attacks on doctors do not happen and if it happens the perpetrators will be punished severely," Fadnavis said.
Maharashtra Medical Education minister Girish Mahajan too warned the resident doctors to withdraw their agitation and resume work or face stern action.
The issue came up in the State Legislative Assembly after the Question Hour when Pratap Sarnaik (Shiv Sena) highlighted the problems faced by patients due to the strike which entered the fifth day today.
Mahajan said despite the High Court directive and appeal by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the doctors have not yielded.
"They have taken in writing from us that we are accepting their ten demands which include providing 1,100 security guards. These guards will be hired from private agencies run by former police officials at a salary of Rs 20,000 each. The government has sanctioned Rs 33 crore for the purpose," he said.
"The doctors tell us they are satisfied with our approach and then go out and tell that they will continue with their agitation. This is getting out of hand and the government is feeling helpless. We don't understand what we should do. The government once again appeals to the doctors to withdraw their strike and resume work, otherwise strict action will have to be taken," the minister added.
Yogesh Sagar of BJP said the government should give an ultimatum to doctors and cancel their registration and file cases against them if they fail to resume work in a day's time.
The demand was supported by other BJP and Sena members.
Sagar said prior surgeries are being indefinitely postponed due to the strike and the patients are facing a harrowing time.
Sena and BJP members came into the Well of the House demanding that strict action be taken against striking doctors. Subsequently, Speaker Haribhau Bagde adjourned the proceedings for 15 minutes.
After the House re-assembled, Speaker said the issue is about an organised sector holding the unorganised section of the society to ransom and the sentiment of the House is that the government should find a solution to this.
The Sena-BJP members again trooped into the Well forcing the Speaker to adjourn the House for 30 minutes.
The entire Opposition benches were empty since they are protesting the suspension of 19 Congress-NCP MLAs for disrupting the Budget presentation last week.
(With Agency Inputs)
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