Patients in government medical colleges in Maharashtra are set for a harrowing time after around 4,500 resident doctors, attached to 18 such institutions in the state, went on an indefinite strike on Thursday in support of their demands.
Called by the Central Board of Maharashtra Resident Doctors, the strike is to press the state government to act on their demands including a hike in stipend, strict implementation of the Doctors Protection Act, two-month maternity leave for female doctors and fixed working hours, among others.
Association president Sagar Mundada said while treating TB patients, if a doctor contracts the illness, he/she would get six months leave.
He said resident doctors have been demanding that they be relieved from the mandatory bond service (to work in rural areas) if there is no vacancy for them within a month after completing the MD degree.
Mundada said during the bond service, resident doctors should be given duties in area of their specialisation.
