Resident docs in Maharashtra on strike from today

Resident doctors across all public hospitals in Maharashtra will go on an indefinite strike from today to stress on the need to beef up security in hospitals. HT reports.

Resident doctors across all public hospitals in Maharashtra will go on an indefinite strike from Saturday to stress on the need to beef up security in hospitals.

HT Image

“We want the state government to address our concern for security. How can we work if we don’t feel safe?” said DR Pankaj Nalawade, general secretary, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD).

On Friday, which was the second day of the strike by resident doctors at Sion hospital after their colleague was assaulted by angry relatives of deceased patient, doctors from JJ, Nair and KEM hospitals joined in.

With nearly 2,000 resident doctors on strike, thousands of patients were inconvenienced. While hospitals made senior doctors work overtime and cancelled lectures, nearly 200 planned surgeries were cancelled and 50% of the patients visiting the outpatient departments were sent back.

“Services were not the same as they are normally. Besides the trauma cases, emergency cases and caesarean surgeries were undertaken,” said Dr Sanjay Oak, director of major hospitals, BMC.