Civic hospital staff on strike today

Medical services in government and civic-run hospitals are likely to be affected on Friday with more than 3,500 resident doctors and 2,200 medical interns from 18 government medical colleges going on a token strike.

Medical services in government and civic-run hospitals are likely to be affected on Friday with more than 3,500 resident doctors and 2,200 medical interns from 18 government medical colleges going on a token strike.

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The doctors attached to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and medical interns from KEM, Nair, Sion and JJ hospitals have called a strike to press their demand for increased security at hospitals, health policy for doctors and a reduction in the medical fee hike.

“Details of our demands have been given to the authorities from time to time. But even after multiple reminders and letters, the issues have not been taken seriously, due to which we have been forced to go on strike,” said Dr Farhan Hamid, general secretary, MARD, Nair Hospital.

Meanwhile, more than 9,000 Class IV employees including ward boys, sweepers, laboratory technicians, and nurses from 16 civic-run peripheral hospitals in the city went on a brief strike on Thursday demanding filling up of vacant posts and reinstatement of Class IV employees whose contracts were terminated on February 1 by the civic body.

The strike was called off after Dr Sanjay Oak, director of Medical Education and major hospitals, BMC, and Dr Seema Malik, the chief medical superintendent of peripheral hospitals, assured the employees that an amicable solution would be worked out.

“Their demands have been forwarded to the municipal commissioner. I am sure employees will be appointed on daily wages,” Dr Oak said.

“Due to the non-availability of workers, a few scheduled surgeries had been postponed. Emergency services were not affected, but around 20 surgeries in the three operation theatres were postponed,” said a hospital source from Rajawadi Hospital, Ghatkopar on condition of anonymity, as he is not authorised to speak to the media.

“We were told that there is no one to take X-rays because the technicians are on strike,” said Rajan Trimukhe, 38, relative of a patient admitted in the hospital.