Demands Unfulfilled Despite Assurance: Resident Doctors to Go on Pan-Maharashtra Indefinite Strike from Tomorrow

Mumbai: The resident doctors in Maharashtra are going to commence a Pan Maharashtra Indefinite Strike from tomorrow since their demands remain still unfulfilled despite the assurance from the state government.

Issuing a Press Release, the Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) informed that the indefinite strike will commence at 5:00 PM on 22.02.2024. However, emergency services will remain unaffected during the strike, the association has assured.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported about the announcement on behalf of MARD to go on an indefinite strike starting from February 07, 2024, if their demands regarding the hostel accommodation and regularisation of stipend were not met.

The demands of the association were the availability of adequate hostel accommodation for Junior and Senior Resident doctors, payment of stipend to resident doctors' bank accounts by 10th of every month with clearance of outstanding stipend till date, and payment of stipend at the same scale as that of Central Institutes.

While the pan-Maharashtra strike was scheduled to commence on 07.02.2024, the Central MARD had a momentous meeting with the Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, Minister of Medical Education Hassan Mushrif and the Secretaries and office bearers of Medical Education, DMER, PWD and the Finance Ministry.

Also Read: Maha DMER assures Rs 10k stipend hike to resident doctors, strike called off

Thereafter, the resident doctors in Maharashtra called off their strike as they received written assurance from the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) regarding their pending demands including proper hostel accommodation, timely payment of stipend and a hike of monthly stipend of residents by Rs 10 thousand.

MARD had warned that if the Government failed to execute its promises in 10 days, the residents would be forced to initiate an All Out Pan Maharashtra indefinite strike.

However, despite the written assurance from the authorities, the demands of the resident doctors still have not been fulfilled. Referring to this, MARD mentioned in its release dated 19.02.2024, "We, ... are compelled to announce a significant decision in response to the unmet promises made by the government. Despite our constructive engagement with the authorities and their assurances on 7th Feb 2024, regrettably, the commitments made to address the genuine concerns of resident doctors remain unfulfilled even after two weeks."

The association informed that the promises including the immediate grant of necessary funds for hostel repairs and construction, regularisation of stipend payments with release of pending stipends and arrears, and a 10k stipend hike, were made in the meeting by Hon Dept CM Ajit  Pawar and Hon Minister of Medical Education Hasan Mushrif.

Highlighting that the promises are yet to be fulfilled, the association announced its decision to go on an indefinite strike and mentioned in the release, "However, the delay in executing these commitments has left us with no choice but to take decisive action to safeguard our rights and uphold our standards of patient care. Therefore, after thorough deliberation, Central MARD hereby announces a Pan Maharashtra Indefinite Strike commencing on Thursday, February 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM. Emergency duties will be maintained during the strike period as an essential measure."

"We reiterate that patient care is our utmost priority, and it is with a deep sense of responsibility that we take this step. Our intention is not to disrupt services but to ensure that the authorities fulfil their obligations towards resident doctors, who are the backbone of the healthcare system," it added.

Writing to the Minister of Medical Education, MARD informed about its decision to commence the strike from tomorrow. It mentioned that the resident doctors are "deeply disappointed" with the lack of seriousness on the authority's part in fulfilling the promises. "Despite the assurances of fulfilling our demands within 2 DAYS it seems no progress has been made even after 2 WEEKS," highlighted the association in the letter dated 21.02.2024.

MARD mentioned that despite their continuous faith in the Government's words, calling off strike multiple times previously, and regardless of their innumerable pleas, their genuine concerns seem to have fallen on "deaf ears".

"Having being pushed to the limit by the cruel disregard towards the resident doctor's legitimate demands, we the Representative Body of the Resident doctors are left with no choice but to go on a Pan Maharashtra Indefinite strike," the association mentioned in the letter.

Announcing its decision to commence the strike tomorrow, MARD clarified that "As a responsible citizen and a doctor, we are extremely apologetic for the potential hampered patient care during the strike hence ALL EMERGENCY SERVICES WILL REMAIN FUNCTIONAL DURING THE STRIKE, But the responsibility of any hampered patient care will solely lie upon the Government."

Also Read: Maha Resident doctors demand Stipend regularisation, proper hostel accommodation, to go on Indefinite Strike from Feb 7