‘Murder of merit’: OPDs shut as 10,000 doctors in Pune join statewide strike

The IMA also released a statement that the Junior Doctors’ Network and Medical Students’ Network were opposed to the Maharashtra government notification permitting registration of CCMP-certified homeopathy practitioners.

IMA national president Dr Dilip Bhanushali said the decision, if implemented, would not only amount to “murder of merit”, but also place patient safety at grave risk. Across the state, medical associations urged the government to immediately withdraw the notification in the larger interest of medical education, professional integrity and quality healthcare.

Representatives of various medical associations submitted a memorandum of demands to Supriya Sule, MP. (Express Photo)

Pune IMA president Dr Sunil Ingale and spokesperson Dr Sanjay Patil said around 10,000 doctors and nearly 200 nursing homes actively participated in the strike. “We held demonstrations at various places,” Dr Patil said, adding that talks are underway with the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Maharashtra. “We hope our demands are met, failing which the IMA will decide to intensify the agitation,” he said.

Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) national president Dr Akshay Dongardive said along with other medical associations they submitted a memorandum of their demands to NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule.

In Pune, at B J Government Medical College, resident doctors said they supported the IMA protest. Dr Chaitanya Melavane, vice-president of the central unit of MARDoctors and president of BJGMC-Pune unit of MARD, said MMC registration of BHMS practitioners was against the National Medical Commission’s norms.

At B J Government Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, Dean Dr Eknath Pawar said medical services were not hampered. “Our emergency sections and other units were not affected,” he said.

Dr Melavane, however, said junior resident doctors did not attend OPDs and routine procedures. “However, lecturers and associate professors were engaged in OPDs and we ensured patients did not suffer because of the strike. Hence, junior resident doctors who were posted for emergency and critical care duties were working,” he added.

Resident doctors at the college also held posters as part of a short demonstration to denounce the state government move and stated that one year of CCMP cannot make Bachelor of Homeopathy practitioners eligible to practice modern medicine and perform emergency procedures.