Nagpur: Resident doctors in Maharashtra have called off their indefinite strike after an assurance by the State Government to increase their stipend by Rs 10,000 from March 1.
All resident doctors will report to their respective duties, a statement issued late on Sunday by Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said, even as they hailed the government’s move to increase the stipend amount.
“This will play a pivotal role in enhancing the mental, financial and social health of each resident doctor individually as well as collectively boost the morale of all the residents,” the statement added.
President of MARD, Dr Abhijit Helge, said they were grateful to the government for taking decisive measures to fulfil the promises that were made to the Central MARD and the resident doctors in the State.
Across the state, 8,000 resident doctors, including 350 from B J Government Medical College in Pune, were on an indefinite strike from February 22 to press for their demands including need for new hostels, repairs to existing ones and regularisation of stipend payments besides a Rs 10,000 hike in stipend.
Dr Helge said the respective office bearers at the state had worked promptly to ensure that demands were executed officially. “The active participation and unity within the fraternity of resident doctors led to this unprecedented victory…,” the statement added. Earlier in Mumbai, senior doctors reported postponement of non-emergency surgeries. Despite longer queues and delayed services, no patients were turned away due to the absence of resident doctors.
With the absence of resident doctors in the OPD, the workload shifted to senior doctors, honorary staff, and interns. Wards that were once filled with patients were observed to have empty beds. Multiple beds were unoccupied in both the medicine and surgery wards. Present employees noted that several individuals have been discharged. Although the workload is lighter on Saturdays, the number of patients is anticipated to rise on Mondays.