Resident Doctors Call Off Strike After Assurance By Maharashtra Govt
03 July, Mumbai
Resident doctors in Maharashtra have decided to withdraw the strike following assurance by the state government to meet all of their demands in a given time-frame.
A delegation of resident doctors led by MARD President Sagar Mundada met State Education Minister Vinod Tawde Friday for second round of talks this afternoon.
After the meeting, Dr. Mundada informed reporters that the minister has responded positively towards all their demands. He said that doctors have been given written assurance that all their demands will be fulfilled within a set time frame.
Dr. Mundada said that the state government has agreed to place doctors only in their area of specialisation during the bond period and has also agreed to increase their stipend.
The state government has also decided to set up a committee to suggest measures to decrease the 24 hours working period of resident doctors.
The minister has also assured that it will forward recommendations regarding maternity and TB leave to the Medical Council of India for favourable consideration. Accordingly, resident doctors have decided to withdraw the strike.
More than 4500 doctors affiliated to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors MARD were on an indefinite strike since yesterday; marginally affecting medical services across the state. There were also reports claiming that 6-month old child admitted in a government-run hospital in Mumbai lost his life as it did not receive timely medical treatment due to strike.
Doctors were demanding provision of two months of paid leave to pregnant female doctors and three months’ paid leave for doctors who contract TB.
Additionally, they wanted post-graduates specialising in a particular field must be posted during their bond service in the same department. Because of increasing attacks on doctors, MARD was also demanding CCTV cameras in all hospitals and a stringent pass system so that only two relatives can enter a hospital along with a patient.