The strike by resident doctors in JJ Hospital entered its sixth day on Friday with resident doctors from across the state supporting it.
The strike by resident doctors in JJ Hospital entered its sixth day on Friday with resident doctors from across the state supporting it. The doctors remain firm on their demand for the ouster of JJ Hospital dean Dr T. P. Lahane and Dr Ragini Parekh and have refused to withdraw the strike despite the state government’s intervention.
“Now over 4,500 Mard (Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors) doctors across the state have extended their support to the strike. There is no question of withdrawing it until our demands are fulfilled,” Mard president Dr Sagar Mundada said.
The resident doctors also held a meeting with medical education minister Vinod Tawde, but the meeting failed to end the impasse.
“The minister has not given us anything in writing. He is talking about sending Dr Parekh on leave. But we want her sent on compulsory leave and why only her, also send Dr Lahane on compulsory leave,” Dr Mundada said. However, he assured that emergency services at the hospital have not been affected by the strike.
The Mard has alleged that apart from harassment of resident doctors, they were also not given an opportunity to conduct surgery. The resident doctors also want an inquiry committee to be set up to probe allegations against Dr Lahane and Dr Parekh.
“We are demanding an inquiry committee headed by a retired high court judge to probe the allegations. We will accept whatever conclusion (that is arrived at) by the committee. But the government is not keen on appointing the committee,” Dr Mundada said.
Mr Tawde in his meeting with the resident doctors had suggested Dr Parekh could go on leave. The minister also gave assurance that the striking resident doctors would not be victimised after the strike and that they would get different examiners and postings in other medical colleges.
Mr Tawde also said the post graduate students would get a different guide if they wanted one, adding that the students would be given opportunity to practise surgery as per the norms. However, the striking doctors have refused to accept the offer and are firm on their demands.
