The State and civic medical colleges said that they are prepared for the strike.
Over 4,000 resident doctors from 14 government medical colleges and three BMC-run hospitals will go on indefinite strike from Thursday, following the failure of talks with the state Medical Education ministry. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) had conveyed a list of their demands in a letter to the state ministry of Medical Education and the Chief Minister last week.
MARD representatives have discussed their demands with the authorities in a series of meetings. The MARD has put forward 10 demands, including maternity leave, TB leave, better accommodation and better security for doctors. The MARD has also asked the government to provide two months leave for resident doctors getting TB.
Dr Sagar Mundada, president of Central MARD said, "In spite of regular follow-ups with the government concerning our demands, the government has failed to respond. We have therefore decided to go in for indefinite mass bunking from Thursday."
The State and civic medical colleges said that they are prepared for the strike.
Dr AK Gwalani, acting dean of KEM Hospital, said, "We had a meeting with all Heads of Department on Wednesday morning. We have also sent across a circular asking senior doctors to step in to handle the emergency and trauma department."
Dr Ramesh Bharmal, dean of BYL Nair Hospital said that an emergency duty rota involving senior doctors was prepared on Wednesday evening. "We are prepared for the strike. We will be cancelling the planned surgeries though. Our focus will be on in-patient, ICU and emergency services," said Dr Bharmal.
While hospital administrations said that the strike will not affect emergency services, they said planned surgeries will have to be postponed.
The MARD strike will affect about 500 planned surgeries and 1,000 OPD patients in Mumbai daily.
){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}
){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}