JJ doctors call off strike after govt assurance

Mumbai: The state-run JJ Hospital’s resident doctors called of their informal strike on Tuesday, after getting a written assurance from the state government that it would deploy 1,100 security guards in state hospitals. The state will also install a centralised alarm system to alert security personnel. Deployment of the security guards and installation of an alarm system were two top demands of the 400-odd doctors who bunked work to protest the assault on two on-duty doctors by the kin of a deceased female cancer patient on Saturday. The strike was called off at around 5 pm on Tuesday.

A meeting was held by the JJ Hospital’s dean where officials from the Directorate of Medical Education & Research (DMER) and resident doctors were present. The meeting was held at night on Monday and continued till Tuesday to find ways to meet demands of enhanced security.

Dr T.P. Lahane, joint director, DMER, said, “We have identified 40 places in JJ Hospital where security guards are needed.” The doctors had continued the ‘mass bunk’ protest for the fourth day since the assault on two of their colleagues on Saturday. The medicos’ talks over their demands with the authorities had not yielded any success till Monday.

The state medical education minister Girish Mahajan said, “The doctors have withdrawn their so called mass bunk and considering their justified demands, the government will beef up the security at the hospital. “We have assured them in writing and have accepted their demands for alarm system also security personnel will be placed in the next few days,” he added.

The resident doctors are now satisfied with the security measures undertaken by the state government. Dr Sarang Donarkar, President, MARD said, “ The government has accepted our demands so we have called of the mass bunk.”

Taking responsibility

Patient-care services remained unaffected as senior doctors have been directed to step in place of the absentees and leaves were cancelled.  JJ Hospital’s dean Dr S. Nanandkar said, “The administration cancelled summer vacations of more than 110 senior doctors.”