Mumbai doctors to resume work by 8 am on Satuday, MARD tells HC

After Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis assured resident doctors that government hospitals will have more security, a section of doctors from Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) called off the protest on Thursday night. The association assured the Bombay High Court on Friday that doctors would resume work by 8 am on Saturday. 

The doctors had been warned with consequences such as six months pay cut, and contempt charges in court. Notices were also served by the BMC on Wednesday. But they did not relent until Fadnavis assured the doctors of their safety. The doctors had gone on a strike after a few colleagues were beaten up by families of patients. 

However, MARD assured the high court on  Friday that doctors will return to their duties by 8 am on Saturday. The court told the doctors that punitive action can be taken against them if they don't return to work on Saturday. The MARD also filed an affidavit in high court, disassociating itself from doctors on strike. 

A BMC lawyer told the HC on Friday, "In 3 BMC Hospitals of Mumbai, total 135 patients have died due to non availability of emergency services." 

"We need to see the assurances being implemented immediately," said Dr Ashok Tambe, president of Indian Medical Association (IMA) said in a statement earlier.

Fadnavis assured that there will be 1,100 security guards within two weeks at all government hospitals, and free legal and medical aid in case of an assault.

At least three hospitals will get round-the-clock security guards, a state home department source told the Hindustan Times.

JJ Hospital, KEM and Sion hospitals will get deployment of armed guards from the Maharashtra State Security Corporation (MSSC). Among the nine hospitals across the state, these three will be the first ones to get armed guards.

MARD had assured the HC that their members will go back to work after the Maharashtra government told the court about increased security.

"The order copy has not been updated on the website. The mass bunk will continue until we get the arrangements in black and white," said a resident doctor from KEM Hospital.

About 1,500 faculty members from medical colleges from periphery and tertiary care hospitals gave a 48-hour notice of resignation in case the security measures are not deployed.

"We as faculty members support the stand of doctors taken for their own safety at workplace. No emergency services will be affected, but we will stop all the routine work and protest wearing black ribbons. Moreover, if the demands are not met, all of us will submit our resignations on Monday," said Dr Rajesh Dere, president, Municipal Medical Teachers Association.