The relay hunger strike called by the MMTA continued for the second day on Wednesday at JJ Hospital, with 25 medical teachers participating in it from 9 am to 5 pm.
The relay hunger strike called by the Maharashtra Medical Teachers’ Association (MMTA) continued for the second day on Wednesday at JJ Hospital, with 25 medical teachers participating in it from 9 am to 5 pm.
The cabinet decision on Wednesday to allow government doctors to practice privately, to supplement their poor pay, did not cut much ice with the agitating doctors.
Over 3,500 medical teachers, including professors, associate professors and lecturers, from 14 government medical colleges across the state participated in the strike called on January 1. Services at JJ hospital, however, were not affected, said several patients at the hospital.
On October 29, medical teachers from across the state, had gone on a mass casual leave to protest against the non-fulfilment of their demands.
“Even after agreeing to our demands in principle, no efforts have been taken to implement them,” said Dr Nagsen Ramraje, president, MMTA. MMTA’s demands include filling up the vacancies, offering permanent status to over 500 temporary lecturers employed in medical colleges across the state, time-bound promotions, review of their salary, leniency in transfers, option to practice privately, and objection to appointment of contractual, honourary or part-time teachers.
“The government is trying to project that several vacancies are already filled by appointing part-time lecturers, who are not recognised by the Medical Council of India,” said Dr Ramraje.
Another problem is the disparity in the salary structure. “Private medical colleges and government medical colleges in Karnataka, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh offer twice and even thrice the amount offered to state government medical college teachers.
Why would anyone want to continue to work here then,” asked a doctor. “If our demands are not met by the first week of January, we will be forced to take further action,” said Dr Ramraje.
s_deepa@dnaindia.net
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