After Bombay HC's rap, resident doctors in Maharashtra call off strike, resume work

Mumbai: Following a stern warning by the Bombay High Court on Friday, resident doctors in Maharashtra on Saturday resumed their duties.

Amid revelations that at least 135 patients died in Mumbai in the past five days due to the five-day strike, the court ordered the doctors to resume normal duties by 8 am on Saturday in all government hospitals in the state.

On Friday, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also gave an ultimatum to striking resident doctors to resume duty or face legal action.

The Bombay High Court had rapped the striking doctors and appealed them to call off their strike on Thursday too.

Addressing a press conference today, a resident doctors' representative said that they trusted the High Court and the Chief Minister that violent attacks on doctors will be curbed and will not go unpunished in future. 

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said: "The state government has issued a letter of assurance and we feel our demands are being addressed. Adequate security will be deployed across hospitals. A 2-pass system per patient will be started immediately at casualty, while one pass will be allowed per patient in general wards. Visiting hours have been fixed at 7.30 am and 8.30 am in the morning, while 4.30 pm and 6.30 pm in the evening."

The statement further stated that, because of a few irresponsible people, they can`t deny the rights of the poor in getting adequate treatment. "FIR regarding assault on doctors on duty is to be lodged strictly under the Doctor`s Protection Act 2010 and by the institute. In emergency situations, an alarm to inform the staff will be installed at all government hospitals by April 30, 2017. All charges and punitive actions taken against doctors including expulsion to be revoked completely with no bearing of such actions on their academics in the future".

"The Maharashtra State security corporation has been ordered to provide essential security in all government medical colleges accordingly 1,100 security guards shall be provided for the same. In the first stage, 500 security guards shall be provided by April 5 in Mumbai. In the second stage Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad, while in the third stage the entire state will be covered by April 30. Out of the guards provided, some will be armed and will be deployed at sensitive locations," the representative said.

The Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corp (BMC) told the court yesterday that in the past five days of doctors' agitation, 135 patients lost their lives in Mumbai's government hospitals, including 53 in KEM, 48 in Sion LTMG and 34 in Nair due to non-availability of emergency services.

In a statement, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors said that their meeting with the Chief Minister on Friday night was satisfactory.

"The state government have issued a letter of assurances and we feel our demands are being addressed. We have asked our members to resume to the duty from Saturday morning," the statement said.

More than 4,500 resident doctors had gone on mass leave for last five days after a series of assault took place on resident doctors in various parts of the state.

Except OPDs and general wards at government and municipal-run hospitals, the health services were not affected.

(With Agency inputs)