Assault on KEM docs: Resident doctors in Maharashtra threaten stir

Around 4,500 resident doctors in Maharashtra have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Sunday evening to protest against the assault on their colleagues

Around 4,500 resident doctors in Maharashtra have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from Sunday evening to protest against the assault on their colleagues at KEM Hospital, Parel, on Friday by the relatives of a three-and-a-half-year-old boy, who died of dengue.

Resident doctors at KEM hospital, Parel went on a strike, after relatives of a child, who died of dengue in the morning, assaulted three doctors. (Anshuman Poyrekar/HT photo)

Medical education minister Vinod Tawde said on Saturday that CCTV cameras will be installed at 32 spots in the hospital. Tawde, who visited the hospital on Saturday morning, said: “We will ensure that the defunct CCTV cameras are made operational immediately. We have also decided to deploy additional security force from Maharashtra Security Corporation.”

The Maharashtra Association of Resident doctors (MARD) is not happy with police investigations.

The Bhoiwada police on Friday arrested the child’s father and uncle. They were booked under the relevant sections of the IPC and the Maharashtra Medical Services Act 2010, and were released on bail the same day.

The child was brought to the hospital on Thursday in a critical condition and was admitted to the general ward as the paediatric ICU was full. He died on Friday.

Services at KEM Hospital were largely unaffected on Saturday. “We performed 104 surgeries on Friday. The services will be affected if the strike continues on Monday,” said Dr A Supe, dean, KEM Hospital.

Read: Assaulted after 3-yr-old’s death, KEM docs go on strike