Medical intern in ICU, 15 in hospital

Four days after they began their hunger strike demanding higher stipend, one of medical interns on strike was admitted to the intensive care unit, while 15 others were hospitalised on Thursday.

Four days after they began their hunger strike demanding higher stipend, one of medical interns on strike was admitted to the intensive care unit, while 15 others were hospitalised on Thursday.

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The police detained seven interns when they tried to stop the ambulance taking the sick interns to the hospital. An officer from the Bhoiwada police said no case had been registered against the protesting interns. “We detained seven interns who were disrupting traffic outside the KEM Hospital between noon and 1pm on Thursday. After the situation became normal, we allowed the seven interns to go.”

Since May 2, around 25 protesting interns have been admitted to the hospital. However, the deadlock between the interns and government remains unresolved. At present, five medical interns are in the ICU of KEM Hospital.

More than 2,000 interns from 18 medical colleges across the state support the medical interns who are on an indefinite hunger strike since May 2 at Kamgar Maidan, Parel. Medical interns who currently earn a monthly stipend of Rs2,550 want the amount to be raised to Rs13,000. There are around 2,060 medical interns in the state.

“The health of protesting interns has worsened in the last four days and government is still not looking into the matter. However, we will continue with the strike unless our demand is met,” said Vijay Bonde, general secretary, Association of State Medical Interns.