Doctors strike in Maharashtra: OPD, surgeries hit

Resident doctors stage a protest at KEM hospital on Monday

Thousands of patients were affected by the resident doctor strike across the city and state on Monday. Due to the personnel crunch, services provided to patients were limited, especially for those who visited the OPD of civic and state-run hospitals and individuals about to undergo surgery.

If the strike continues, the burden on senior doctors will increase and patients who are dependent on public health services will suffer.

About 7,000 resident doctors in the state are participating in the agitation. Their demands include increasing the dearness allowance, improving the condition of hostels and creating more senior doctor posts.

Protesters at a sit-in on the premises of JJ hospital on Monday

According to the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), the government had been approached multiple times with regard to their demands, but only assurances had been given. Therefore, resident doctors have decided to abstain from providing non-emergency services.

While many have been staging sit-in protests and brandishing posters on the premises of hospitals and medical colleges, they are still working in the ICU and emergency room of government hospitals. Quite a few resident doctors were also seen in the general ward working in an unofficial capacity to ensure that patients were cared for. However, due to the shortage of personnel in the OPD, heads of department, professors, associate professors and bonded doctors have their hands full.

Also read: Mumbai: Patient services at civic, govt hospitals to get hit today

Mohan Sarang, an Antop Hill resident who had come to Sion hospital to get his leg dressed, was turned away by the staff on Monday due to the shortage of doctors in the OPD. The impact of the strike was also visible in the OPD departments of KEM and Nair hospitals.

Borivli resident Rajbhar Jaiswar, who visited Nair hospital's neurology department with his wife, told mid-day, "We arrived early in the morning but the doctor came to the OPD in the afternoon."

A senior official from the BMC's health department said, "Only 50 per cent of elective surgeries took place in all BMC hospitals. There was a 60 per cent increase in patients at OPDs compared to the routine numbers. But there has not been much of an impact on health services."

Additional Municipal Commissioner Sanjeev Kumar also claimed that the strike did not have much of an effect on hospital services. "Discussions are ongoing regarding the demands of the resident doctors in connection with the COVID allowance. The matter will be resolved soon. The BMC is also working on resolving hostel issues," Kumar said.

MARD President Dr Avinash Dahiphale, meanwhile, stated, "We do not want patients to suffer, but the government is ignoring our demands. If the government doesn't take a decision, we will withdraw our services in emergency wards, too."

7K
No. of doctors on strike

50
Percentage of elective surgeries that took place in BMC hospitals