The Maharashtra government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the protesting resident doctors, after their strike entered seventh day on Friday.
The Maharashtra government invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against the protesting resident doctors, after their strike entered seventh day on Friday.
JJ Hospital's Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) representatives announced an indefinite mass bunk last Sunday, after 12 resident doctors from the ophthalmology department complained of mental harassment by the head of the department and hospital's dean Dr TP Lahane.
In a letter to the state medical education minister and the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), MARD at JJ hospital has requested Lahane's transfer with immediate effect. On Friday, 4,000 resident doctors from other medical colleges in Maharashtra also joined the indefinite strike.
Since Sunday, the resident doctors have also had a series of meetings with the medical education minister, additional chief secretary of state medical education, politicians, director of medical education and research and many others.
Dr Parmeshwar Satpathy, president of JJ hospital's MARD, and JJ hospital dean Dr TP Lahane speak to dna to present their differing views about the issue.
Dr Parmeshwar Satpathy, president of JJ hospital's MARD
The state has invoked the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) against resident doctors on strike. What is your next step?
PS: We have decided to stay united and continue with our indefinite mass bunk till our demands are met. We are ready to face MESMA. We are taking legal opinion as well.
This is the first time that a MARD strike has extended for a week and several meetings with the government officials have ended without any conclusion. What is the reason behind the deadlock?
PS: This time, our fight is with some big guns. I would not like to elaborate on this more. We want justice for our friends.
What will end this deadlock?
PS: We want a proper, transparent inquiry to be set-up against dean Dr TP Lahane and head of the ophthalmology department Dr Ragini Parekh, during which we want them to be sent on a leave. In one of our meetings this week, medical education minister Vinod Tawde agreed to send Dr Parekh on leave but he didn't take any stand on Dr Lahane. Therefore, we continued with our strike.
Do you think it is ethical to drag resident doctors from the rest of Maharashtra in the strike, even as many places face drought?
PS: Emergency services are running. Resident doctors from other medical colleges in Maharashtra extended their support and joined the strike on the sixth day. If we succeed this time, it will be a deterrent for other teachers and ensure that students receive teaching as per the Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines.
Dr TP Lahane, dean of Sir JJ Group of hospitals
How can you break the dead lock?
TP: I have personally had discussions with students to resolve the strike for four times. Apart from me, our medical education minister Vinod Tawde, additional chief secretary Medha Gadgil and director Dr Pravin Shingare also met with the resident doctors' delegation. Every one assured them of justice. I really don't know why they have not called off the strike. Several surgeries have been postponed and patients are suffering. Even after long discussions, they are not ready to listen. What can we do? Now the government has decided to take action against the students under MESMA, because there is no choice.
What about students' allegations?
TP: I think there is a need for inquiry and I am ready for that. We had appointed an independent doctors' committee to probe the matter but not a single student turned up. There is an allegation that we do not provide surgical training to the students. But we have a register that shows how many resident doctors conducted surgeries. They are also claiming that students were mentally harassed. If a teacher pulls up a student for a mistake, they are calling it harassment. I really don't understand. Where is the student-teacher relationship?
The warring parties are circulating several videos, audios and messages on the social media...
TP: Truth will prevail. I am not scared about defamation, but this whole incident has spoiled the institution's name. Everybody knows about everything. I just want all this to stop immediately. We have to serve the patients. The government will conduct an inquiry and the truth will come out. Then the government will take a call accordingly.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "doctors")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}