Resident doctors of JJ Hospital protest against an assault to a junior doctor which took place on Saturday. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

Mumbai: Around 250 resident doctors of Mumbai’s civic-run Sion Hospital went on ‘mass bunk’ on Monday, to show solidarity with the continuing ‘mass bunk’ by doctors in the state-run JJ Hospital. Around 400 odd resident doctors of JJ Hospital, who continued their ‘mass bunk’ for the third day on Monday, will stay away on Tuesday as well after talks with government officials to resolve the vexed security issue failed.

The JJ doctors are peeved over the assault on a few doctors by the kin of a deceased female cancer patient on Saturday and have resorted to highlight their concerns related to security.

Maharashtra Resident Doctors Association (MARD) representatives had a meeting with the medical education minister Girish Mahajan on Monday .The doctors say, the meeting was satisfactory, but they will continue with the strike. The minister assured to beef up the security in the hospital. MARD wants a round-the clock security guard in each ward as well as an alarm system to deal with the violence issue.

Talking to The Asian Age, Dr Sarang Donarkar, president of JJ Hospital’s branch of MARD said, “We have received support from the civic-run Sion hospital, the residents were not working and went on mass bunk.”

Dr Donarkar, said, “We had an assertive meeting with Mr Mahajan and joint directors and Director of Medical Education and Research (DMER).  They went on a round in hospital premises asking which part we want security along with the alarms. Unless and until we get security with buzzers, we won’t resume to our services. 18  months back, the state promised to install an alarm system to discourage such assaults.”