Mumbai: MARD supports JJ resident doctors, strike work indefinitely

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) on Thursday announced a state-wide strike to extend its support to JJ hospital resident doctors, who have been on an indefinite mass bunk since Sunday.

"We strongly condemn the mental harassment and denial of resident doctors' right to learn in a healthy atmosphere at JJ hospital," said MARD representatives. As many as 4,500 resident doctors across Maharashtra will go on indefinite strike on Friday, demanding strict action against the abusive faculty.

The resident doctors of JJ's Ophthalmology department had complained of mental harassment by the head of the department and dean of the hospital, Dr TP Lahane. In a letter to the state medical education minister and the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), MARD members at JJ have requested Lahane's transfer with immediate effect.

Since Sunday, the doctors have had a series of meetings with medical education minister, additional chief secretary of state medical education, politicians, director of medical education and research and so on.

Dr Avinash Supe, director of Medical Education and Major Hospitals in BMC, said, "On public holidays and weekends, we won't have too many problems. Our senior doctors will step in for emergency work. If the strike continues on Monday, we will have to think."