4,000 doctors to go on strike from today in Mumbai

After talks between resident doctors and the state medical education ministry failed on Wednesday, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) announced an indefinite strike starting Thursday. Health services across the state will be affected.

After talks between resident doctors and the state medical education ministry failed on Wednesday, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) announced an indefinite strike starting Thursday. Health services across the state will be affected.

Around 4,000 resident doctors working with government and civic-run medical colleges in the state will participate in the strike, which is expected to cripple health services in the state.

“We will focus on emergency surgeries. Some planned surgeries might be postponed,” said Dr AK Gvalani, acting dean, KEM Hospital, Parel.

Dean of JJ Hospital, Dr TP Lahane, said, “All senior doctors will work on Thursday. We will perform around 200 surgeries as we do every day.”

Sources present at the meeting between resident doctors and medical education minister Vinod Tawde said the minister agreed to all demands.

However, the association wanted an assurance in writing. “Tawde agreed to our demands but has refused to give us anything in writing. We want a time-bound assurance,” said Dr Sagar Mundada, president, MARD.

Resident doctors have demanded two months paid leave for pregnant doctors and those detected with TB and the installation of CCTV cameras.