After much lobbying and protests, complaints from city doctors were finally acknowleged on Wednesday with the Cabinet approving an ordinance condemning attacks on medicos.
After much lobbying and protests, complaints from city doctors were finally acknowleged on Wednesday with the Cabinet approving an ordinance condemning attacks on medicos.
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According to the Maharashtra Medical Services Persons and Medical Institutions (Prevention ofu00a0 Violence and Damages or Loss of Property) ordinance, offenders will have to pay Rs 50,000 or face imprisonment for three years, or both, and pay double in compensation for the damage done.
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The long-awaited ordinance comes after relatives of a deceased patient attacked five doctors at KEM Hospital on February 9. Following this, over 12,000 doctors from Mumbai alone and joined by others in the state decided to stage a No Practice Day on February 24 to voice their protest against the inaction.
The protest was however called off after reassurance from the CM Ashok Chavan to pass the legislation as soon as possible.
"Our efforts have finally paid off. We thank everyone for their co-operation," said Dr Anil Dudhbhate, general secretary, Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and one of the doctors at KEM who was assaulted.