New Leadership at IMA JDN Maharashtra Takes Charge; Addresses Stipend Delay for Senior Residents at MPGIMER

Nashik: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) Junior Doctors Network state elections for the year 2023-24 were conducted recently with Dr Pravin Dhage being elected as the State Convener of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (IMA JDN) for Maharashtra State.

The polling, which took place on October 31, 2023, culminated in the announcement of the results on November 1, 2023, in the presence of the election committee. Meanwhile, the election also saw two other medicos, Dr Pratik Gond and Dr Aishwarya Yadav, who contested for the position of State Convener but did not secure victory. However, they have been appointed to key roles within the IMA Maharashtra State. Dr. Pratik Gond has been appointed as the General Secretary, while Dr. Aishwarya Yadav will take on the responsibility of State Co-Convener.

Dr. Pravin Dhage has an MBBS and an M.D. in Pharmacology from LTMMGH & Sion Hospital. He has been an important part of the COVID-19 Vaccine, Phase I Clinical Trial Study of Sion Hospital Mumbai. He worked as a house officer in the Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology also. He worked as a senior resident at LTMMC & GH, Sion Mumbai, and also managed a health center, working in a team of Doctors, Paramedical staff and workers as the Medical Officer running the Peripheral Health Centers of Vashind and Tembha.

Dr.Gond completed his MBBS from Dr. Vaishampayan Memorial Government Medical College, Solapur, Maharashtra. (MUHS) He worked as a medical officer at Rural Hospital, in Harsul, Nashik. He worked as a resident of surgery at Rural Medical College, Loni for 3 years. He served as the President of the Association of State Medical Interns, Maharashtra for session 2018–2019. He has been a part of many other doctors' associations, and he also acted as the president of the Loni branch of IMA JDN.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues team, IMA JDN's newly appointed members stated that the association would dedicatedly work on supporting the legitimate demands of the doctor. The association addressed the issue of pending stipends for the senior residents of the Mahatma Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (MPGIMER), Nashik, and resolved the issue right after assuming charge.

"People need the truth always and doctors need someone to stand for them and unite them. We are going to make sure that we can protest against any kind of injustice. A few days ago we submitted a letter to the Health Minister on behalf of the Senior Resident doctors of MPGIMER Nashik who have been diligently serving in their respective departments since their joining on the 28th of August 2023. Despite their dedicated service of more than two months, there has been a delay in disbursing the stipend to our Senior Residents. This delay is attributed to a dilemma between DMER and MUHS Nashik regarding the stipend. and further complicating matters is the absence of clarity concerning the exact amount to be paid. We requested the authorities to immediately release the pending stipend," Dr. Gond tolf Medical Dialogues.

With the association following up in the matter, the matter was promptly resolved, and the two-month pending stipend was credited to their accounts on Friday.