Govt docs still unclear about maternity leave

MUMBAI: Lack of clarity on maternity leave is forcing resident doctors in Maharashtra’s government hospitals to either continue working in their advanced stages of pregnancy or opt out of examinations and waste an educational term, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Mard) said recently.

Earlier this month, Mard wrote to the medical education departments of the city and state in order to resolve the issue citing the fact that at least six to seven resident doctors, who are currently pregnant, are clueless about their leave status.

The Maternity Benefit Act, 2017, states that female resident doctors are entitled to get paid medical leave for up to 26 weeks for pregnancy and six weeks in the case of a miscarriage. However, a Maharashtra government notification allows only two months of leave, without specific guidelines about the payment of dues, and its relation with the Central Act.

Dr Madhuri Chavan, 29, a third-year forensic medicine resident of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion is in her sixth month of gestation but is not sure if she will have to take a pay cut or delay answering her exams. “I spoke with other resident doctors and administrative personnel but they are clueless about the issue,” she said.

“Administrative officials say we have about two months leave, with extension — which means the period won’t be included in our academic term and the doctor is forced to appear for exams directly in the next academic term,” said Dr Shraddha Thakur, female representative, Central Mard, Sassoon Hospital, Pune. Mard members recently met Dr Pravin Shingare, director, directorate of medical education, and Idzes Kundan, BMC’S assistant municipal commissioner (health).

“We have suggested that as per Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines, a resident can avail 20% leave of their total course duration without a term extension,” said Dr Lokeshkumar Chirwatkar, president, Central Mard.