After Devendra Fadnavis’ assurance on security, resident doctors may call off strike this evening

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday promised full support and security to resident doctors who have been striking following a string of attacks by relatives of patients.

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday promised full support and security to resident doctors who have been striking following a string of attacks by relatives of patients.

Thousands of patients were distressed owing to the four-day strike.

Fadnavis gave the assurance in a meeting with representatives of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD). Government officials said the association was satisfied with Fadnavis’ promise and will call off the four-day strike by Thursday evening. The MARD is yet to make any announcement.

The strike by resident doctors entered the fourth day on Thursday.

They even ignored state medical education minister Girish Mahajan’s warning to resume work by Wednesday evening or face six month’ salary cut after which Fadnavis decided to intervene in the matter on Thursday.

In an hour-long meeting, the CM said the government was ready to recruit additional 1,100 security guards within a fortnight. These guards will be deployed at all government-run hospitals, said Mahajan.

The CM also promised to form a legal cell that will provide free legal aid in cases of assaults against doctors, said a senior official, who attended the meeting.

“The state government is now hopeful that the doctors will resume their duties today evening and things will be back to normal as patients have badly suffered with the strike,” Mahajan added.

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