Section of Mumbai docs ends stir on CM assurance
Move comes after Fadnavis promises security at hospital; several other doctors’ associations to decide on resuming work today
A section of doctors from Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) called off the protest late on Thursday night after chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ assurance that public hospitals will be provided with more security.
How many doctors will resume work, however, will only be known on Friday morning.
Other bodies supporting the striking doctors, such as the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Maharashtra, said they will take a final call on the ‘mass bunk’ on Friday morning, when the doctors meet.
“We need to see the assurances being implemented immediately,” said Dr Ashok Tambe, president of IMA.
Fadnavis on Thursday had promised full support and security to resident doctors, who have been on strike following a string of attacks by relatives of patients.
Home department sources told Hindustan Times three hos(MARD) pitals in Mumbai will be provided round-the-clock security guards.
The state-run JJ Hospital and the civic-run KEM and Sion hospitals have been selected for the deployment of armed guards from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC). The three hospitals are among the nine (across the state) that have been selected for the first phase of deployment, sources said.
Meanwhile, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors assured the Bombay high court their members will resume work after state government informed the court about the increased security arrangements to be implemented. “The order copy has not been updated on the website. The mass bunk will continue until we get the arrangements in black and white,” said a resident doctor from KEM Hospital.
Deepening the worries of state government and civic bodies, 1,500 faculty members from medical colleges attached to periphery and tertiary care hospitals served a 48-hour notice threatening mass resignation if the security demands are not implemented.
“We as faculty members support the stand of doctors taken for their own safety at workplace. No emergency services will be affected, but we will stop all the routine work and protest wearing black ribbons. Moreover, if the demands are not met, all of us will submit our resignations on Monday,” said Dr Rajesh Dere, president, Municipal Medical Teachers Association.
We as faculty members support the stand of doctors taken for their own safety at workplace. No emergency services will be affected, but we will stop all the routine work and protest wearing black ribbons. RAJESH DERE, president, Municipal Medical Teachers Association