Mass Hadtaal: 8000 plus Maha Resident Doctors on Strike demanding stipend hike, hostel accommodation
Maharashtra: Around 8,000 resident doctors across the State of Maharashtra have commenced their pan-Maharashtra indefinite strike from today, as their demands regarding hostel accommodation and stipend hike have not been fulfilled despite written assurance from the Government authorities.
Confirming that the strike is on, the president of Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Dr. Abhijit Helge informed the media that the strike will commence today at 5 PM and at JJ Hospital Mumbai, the protest will begin at Khula Sabhagruha.
However, MARD has assured that the emergency services will remain operational to ensure that essential medical care is provided to the patients during the strike.
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.
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. Therefore, MARD recently announced its decision to commence a pan_Maharashtra strike from February 22, 2024.
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 adding that the "Emergency duties will be maintained during the strike period as an essential measure."
Yesterday, the association wrote to the Minister of Medical Education and informed about its decision to commence the strike. In the letter directed to the Minister, MARD clarified that the "...responsibility of any hampered patient care will solely lie upon the Government."
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