Thaindian News

Mumbai, Sep 11 (IANS) Over 3,000 striking doctors across Maharashtra Sunday evening called off their protest that began three days ago after officials ensured them of meeting their demands.

Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors Vice President Manoj Agalawe from Sion Hospital here said that owing to assurance from authorities and increasing inconvenience to patients, the strike has been called off.

“Our talks with Mumbai’s Municipal Commissioner Subodh Kumar had been positive Saturday. We met DMER (Directorate of Medical Education and Research) director P.S. Shingare. He has assured that the problems related with steep hike in college fees and better hostel facilities will be looked into,” Agalawe said.

Medical services in Maharashtra were hit since Thursday when over 500 doctors struck work pressing for enhanced security at hospitals and sharper surveillance.

By Saturday, over 3,000 resident doctors in government hospitals across the state went on an indefinite strike to press for their demands

Patients at various hospitals were hard pressed to find a doctor. Department heads at various hospitals said over 50 percent of their scheduled surgeries had to be postponed.

According to Pankaj Nalawade of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors from KEM Hospital, three government hospitals in Mumbai that come under the municipal corporation have major security issues.

He also identified 11 government hospitals across the state which do not have adequate security for doctors.

“The DMER has agreed to set up a security committee for each hospital within seven days and they shall review the requirements of each hospital,” he said.

The stir was triggered after a physically challenged doctor at the state-run Sion Hospital was assaulted by a patient’s kin.

Angered by the death of a 10-month-old girl, relatives assaulted the on-duty resident doctor, Vishnu Dhadwad, at the hospital Wednesday. His colleagues who tried to intervene were also beaten up.

The infant, Sadia Siddique, was brought to the hospital Sep 3 for lower respiratory tract infection.

According to the doctors, she was recovering well and was moved to the general ward. However, her condition deteriorated and she was put in the intensive care unit where she died.