Warn of statewide agitation if govt doesn't roll back decision
Warn of statewide agitation if govt doesn't roll back decisionu00a0
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Resident doctors at the state-run Sassoon General Hospital wore black bands to work yesterday to protest against the government decision to hike medical fees from Rs 18,000 to Rs 45,000 per year.
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| Down down: Doctors say that the proposed 150 per cent hike in fees will hurt poor students.
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Calling the decision a secret move to privatise the medical education sector, resident doctors said if the state implements the fee hike they would go on a statewide stir.
Dr Parag Rathod, president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors at Sassoon submitted a memorandum of demands to the dean's office, asking for fees to remain the same in medical colleges, improved security at hospitals and medical insurance for resident doctors, among other things.
Rathod said their principal demand was that fees should not be increased.
u00a0"The proposed fees are almost 150 per cent more than the current fees, a great injustice to those coming from poor families as they won't be able to afford medical education. Also, the government has compared us to private sector colleges and said there would be a systematic increase of 10 per cent in fees every year. We want the government to take back this decision," said Rathod.
Resident doctors also want better and increased security for doctors, who they say are at the mercy of the mob when relatives of patients get upset, and a medical health insurance policy for doctors.
"Doctors face the biggest risk of contracting illnesses as we are constantly exposed to patients. In this case, the government should start a health policy for doctors so that they are covered in for occupational hazards," said Rathod.
