Pune: Resident doctors from BJ Medical College (BJMC) in Pune have declared their participation in the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors’ (MARD) strike, scheduled to commence from Wednesday. The strike is a response to unmet promises made by the state government following a similar protest conducted over a year ago in January 2023.
Dr Nikhil Gattani, the president of BJMC’s MARD chapter, expressed the collective disappointment that has prompted the resident doctors to take this step. In a press release, MARD outlined several pressing issues that demand immediate attention, including a substantial shortage of hostel premises in medical colleges, resulting in overcrowded living conditions for resident doctors.
One of the key grievances is the delayed and irregular payment of stipends, with resident doctors alleging non-payment for multiple months. The statement also highlighted the disparity in stipends, emphasizing that despite the higher cost of living in Maharashtra, resident doctors receive significantly lower stipends compared to their counterparts in other states.
Dr Gattani stated, “These issues have persisted since our last strike, based on the promises made by the government. We have pursued these concerns through various channels, including Central MARD, for over a year without resolution. If our demands are not met, junior resident doctors at BJMC and Sassoon General Hospital will be left with no choice but to initiate an indefinite strike.”
Despite the strike, BJMC’s MARD chapter assured that emergency services will remain operational during this period. The college administration plans to utilize teaching staff and government doctors to mitigate the impact on patient care.
Dr Vinayak Kale, the dean of BJMC, acknowledged the potential consequences of a prolonged strike, stating, “If prolonged, the strike will hamper out-patient department (OPD) services, postpone planned surgeries, and impact the indoor patients’ department (IPD) to some extent. However, we have already planned to deploy teaching staff, assistant professors, associate professors, professors, senior resident doctors, and third-year MBBS students to ensure continuity in hospital services.”
