Around 3,000 resident doctors across Maharashtra went on an indefinite strike on Saturday to press the demand for better security for doctors at civic hospitals.
Doctors in Mumbai hospitals have been on strike for the past three days following an incident of assault on a colleague by the relatives of a patient. This followed an incident of assault a day earlier in Aurangabad district.
“All civic hospitals in Mumbai, Thane and all government hospitals in the State are on strike,” Dr. Madhav Swami, resident doctor at KEM hospital and ex-president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) told The Hindu over telephone.
“The issue of security for doctors has not been resolved. The security provided in civic hospitals is no match to the kind provided in private hospitals. Moreover, there could be a restriction on the number of people coming to meet the patient. Private hospitals issue only two passes per patient, but in civic hospitals there are large groups coming in to see the patients,” said Dr. Shankar Chopne, secretary, MARD, KEM hospital.
MARD has sought a written assurance from the Municipal Commissioner. “Every time assurances are given during the strike period, but nothing is done about it later,” Mr. Chopne said.
Pravin Shingare, Director of Medical Education (additional charge) told The Hindu over telephone that negotiations with MARD were still on. He accused the association of changing tack.
“We have already accepted their demand for providing security. But now they are demanding that other pending issues be addressed,” Dr. Shingare said.
He said resident doctors in Kolhapur, Dhule, Miraj, Jalna and Akola had not joined the strike and expressed the hope medical services would not be affected on Sunday — the day of Ganesha immersion.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) issued a press note stating that the civic body would strengthen security in its hospitals. It said vacancies of security guards would be filled, walkie-talkie sets and other communication devices purchased immediately and accommodation facilities for resident doctors enhanced.
The BMC Commissioner visited the Lokmanya Tilak hospital, Sion and held a discussion with doctors. Maharashtra Navnirman Sena president Raj Thackeray also visited the hospital earlier in the day to enquire about the resident doctors' demands.
MARD, however, said it was not satisfied with oral assurances and wanted a written statement.
