Govt strikes hard, issues ultimatum

NOVEMBER 30: Attempting to threaten the striking resident doctors into submission, the state government has told the 4,000 agitating doct...

NOVEMBER 30: Attempting to threaten the striking resident doctors into submission, the state government has told the 4,000 agitating doctors in the state that they should either report to work by 8 am on December 2 or face penalties which could even mean termination of their residency.

The government, which has consistently refused to offer central pay parity since the agitation was launched nine days ago, issued a circular to the deans of all 11 government medical colleges in the state today, stating that the doctors should resume duty by December 2. State Health Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar told Express Newsline that the deans will decide on the nature of penalties to be imposed should the strike continue. The Grant Medical College, which is affiliated to JJ Hospital, is the only government-run medical college in Mumbai. A similar circular has already been issued by the municipal commissioner to civic medical colleges in the city.

According to state Director of Medical Education and Research, Dr V LDeshpande, if the doctors fail to resume work, the government could at the very least make them repeat the current term or even terminate their residency. The residency order issued when students enrol for post-graduation bars the doctors from striking work, he added.

Mantralaya sources say the resident doctors8217; December-January examination could be postponed as the government cannot spare teachers, who are currently helping to man public hospitals in view of the strike. Other disciplinary measures could include cancelling the residents8217; six-month term and even their registration. The government may also make note of their participation in the agitation in their experience certificate.

Dr Deshpande points out that the striking doctors have been offered a 55 per cent increase in their wages, which is more than any offer made during earlier agitations. 8220;This is a good hike and the government has also promised to look into their living conditions within a short period,8221; says Dr Deshpande. However, thedifference between the salaries of residents in Maharashtra and other states cannot be bridged easily or soon, he added.During the last round of talks, the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors MARD, which is spearheading the agitation, had been told that the government would offer junior resident doctors a pay hike amounting to Rs 2,500, which would take their wages to Rs 7,000 per month while senior residents would get Rs 4,000 Rs 9,000 per month.

However, the doctors, who had initially demanded central pay parity, have not agreed to the proposal. They say they will settle for nothing less than Rs 11,000 and Rs 13,000 respectively. They had also rejected the government8217;s offer on the ground that both seniors and juniors should be offered an equal raise of Rs 4,000. They had pointed out that creating disparities was an attempt to split the doctors and thwart the agitation. After all, there are only 250 senior doctors of the 4,000-odd residents in the state.

Meanwhile, MARD reacted strongly tothe ultimatum fixed by the government, saying they will dare the authorities if necessary, according to MARD spokesperson, Dr Rajas Deshpande. Claiming it would be illegal to take action against the doctors, he added that MARD has sought legal opinion on this matter. The doctors will meet the chief minister in a couple of days and this should help resolve the deadlock, he said.