DOCS CALL OFF STRIKE FEARING GOVT ACTION

MUMBAI: A day after the government issued expulsion notices to 4,500 resident doctors across the state, the medical practitioners called of their four-day strike fearing arrest under the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act.

“If they had not called off the strike, the deans would have been forced to approach the police as they were hampering hospital services,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research.

The government agreed to hike their stipend ( currently Rs31,000) by Rs5,000 and also promised to provide postings within three months to candidates that have signed a bond saying they will work in state hospitals. “We called off the strike because we didn’t want patients to be affected,” said Dr Swapnil Kulkarni, spokesperson, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors.