07 April,2016 10:13 PM IST | | Sadaguru Pandit
With the state invoking the invoke Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) on the JJ Hospital's opthalmology resident doctors' strike, the movement is finding it more tough by the day to continue
With the state invoking the invoke Maharashtra Essential Services Maintenance Act (MESMA) on the JJ Hospital's opthalmology resident doctors' strike, the movement is finding it tough to go on. This is despite the slated support of Central MARD that was expected to strengthen JJ Hospital's opthalmology resident's strike against Dean Dr Tatyarao Lahane and HOD Dr Ragini Parekh, with sources confirming that the strike is now struggling to stay strong.
Chairman of legislative council Ramraje Nimbalkar invoked MESMA act against the striking doctors.
MARD confirmed that while 4500 resident doctors will support the strike, they have excluded emergency medical services and will continue to treat emergency patients.
All 450 resident doctors from Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital, crying foul over the 'gross injustice' towards their 12 colleagues from ophthalmology department have called for an indefinite strike from Sunday morning.
While the strike is an attempt to protest against the "torturous work environment and incessant mental harassment at the hands of department heads", Dean of the hospital Dr T P Lahane has claimed that it's an attempt by the students to divert the attention from a botched-up operative complication which resulted in the patient being shifted to the ICU.
However, from Friday onwards, all the 4500 resident doctors across the state are slated to participate in the strike showing their support to the alleged harassment of doctors from opthalmology department of JJ Hospital.
Dr Sagar Mundada, President of Central MARD said, "We are supporting the strike of 450 residents of JJ Hospital but we will also make sure no patients are inconvenienced at any given point. As it is, on the occasion of Gudi Padwa the OPD will not be functioning so the residents will only serve in emergency departments," said Mundada.
Sources confirmed that the resident doctors of JJ Hospital participated in the strike with the support of BJP leader and social activist Shaina NC, but the increasing political pressure on the fifth day of strike has resulted in the residents failing to gather support and struggling to hold their ground.
"They thought that they will be able gather enough support from political bodies and put pressure on Dr Lahane and Dr Parekh, but now the residents are not getting any response from the people who supported them in the beginning," confirmed a senior resident doctor.
