Maharashtra resident doctors call off strike after Govt's assurance

The doctors decided to withdraw all OPDs, non-emergency ward work, departmental work and Elective services from 31.12.21. The resident doctors in the state had gone on strike on Friday, demanding recruitment of non-academic junior resident doctors equal to the number of residents in colleges.

In a statement, MARD mentioned, " The doctors have been working relentlessly in fighting two waves of covid. With the imminent third wave and delay in NEET PG counselling causing a deficit of residents, we will not be equipped to execute our duties efficiently and this will ultimately have detrimental effects on patient care."

" It's been more than 6 months that we have made multiple legal appeals and have protested silently but despite working with 2/3rd of the workforce our pleas have fallen on deaf ears. Last week even more unacceptable and the shameful event occurred, where our peacefully protesting resident doctors were brutally thrashed. Even the female resident doctors are being manhandled by male police officers", the association further added. In the wake of these events, the resident doctors decided to start the protest.

In a statement issued late on Monday evening, Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) president Dr Avinash Dahiphale said the recruitment of house officers/ medical officers in all government/ corporation medical colleges and hospitals as per requirement in the view of the delay in NEET-PG counselling had been addressed. Irregularities pertaining to stipends at some medical colleges will also be addressed soon, he said.

Talking to Medical Dialogues, MARD President Dr Dahiphale said, " The Central MARD Team had fruitful videoconference meeting with respected Director, DMER Dr.Deelip Mhaisekar on 3/01/2022. The authorities agreed to recruit more staff to relieve our burden. As far as the issue related to NEET PG counselling in concerned, d is not under power of DMER, So it will be addressed after the directions from the National medical counselling committee. Nearly 6,000 resident doctors from more than 20 medical colleges across Maharashtra participated in the protest and if we continue the strike, it will be impossible for the government to maintain healthcare in the state. "

" In the last three-four days, hospitals had to cancel many elective surgeries. However, our priority is always the patients. Considering that most of our demands are met and considering the sharp rise in the number of Omicron cases in the state, the Central MARD committee has decided to CALL OFF the STRIKE and resume duties", added the doctor.