Over 3,800 interns affiliated to the Maharashtra State Medical Students Association (MSMSA) announced their decision to go on an indefinite strike.
The statewide strike from today likely to hit the ailing hard in rural areas
Over 3,800 interns affiliated to the Maharashtra State Medical Students Association (MSMSA) announced their decision to go on an indefinite strike, following no response from union health minister Anbumani Ramadoss’ decision to extend the curriculum of MBBS course from five and half years to six and half years.
“We submitted a letter to the Health Ministry on November 26, asking for their stand in the MBBS course extension issue. However there has been no response. So we have decided to launch an indefinite strike,” said Basavraj Kadalage, spokesman for MSMSA.
“Interns in TN have been on strike for the past 11 days, while interns in Rajasthan since last four days. We will join them from today,” said Vipul Gattani, an intern in KEM and a member of MSMSA. Mumbai has approximately 150-200 interns in various hospitals like KEM, Sion, Nair and JJ. Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors and doctors affiliated to the Indian Medical Association have also announced support to the interns.
Resident doctors in public hospitals expressed their concerns over interns going on strike, as work in hospitals would be affected.
“Interns share our work burden to a great extent. The work they perform includes collecting blood samples of patients, checking patients in the OPD and the wards,” said Dr Ravikant Singh, resident doctor, KEM.
What is more cause for concern is the fact that interns are posted in the rural areas and often end up running rural heath post single-handedly. “With the interns going on an indefinite strike, those ailing in rural areas are sure to be affected,” added Singh.
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