Doctors end strike after promise to boost security

“The DMER has given us a written assurance that they will strengthen security in the four teaching colleges. This was the ninth incident when a doctor was targetted by relatives this year,” said Dr Pankaj Nalawade,president of Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD).

In the five-hour meeting on Sunday,the DMER decided to set up a security committee at the individual institutions. BMC security officials,pre- and para-medical staff,MARD members as well as dean of respective hospitals will be part of this committee which will inspect the number of security personnel,CCTVs and tackle cases of manhandling.

“We have also demanded a police chowkie to be set up in all four hospitals for FIRs to be filed immediately. No police personnel should be above the age of 45,” said Nalawade. Each security panel will be set up within the next 15 days and a security report of each hospital will be submitted to the DMER within a month.

DMER joint director Dr Pravin Shingare said: “MARD members insisted they be made part of the committees,which we would have agreed to even without the strike. After each hospital panel sends a survey report,the Centre will decide to boost security accordingly.”