Maharashtra CM appeals doctors to end strike

Municipal Commissioners have undertaken a security initiative for the protection of the doctors in the state.

In a two-hour long intensive meeting, the AMC (WS), the Director, the deans and the security chief among others made an individualised security plan for each hospital, defining everything clearly.

The plan lists the following instructions.

• Different entry points for doctors, nurses, patients and the other staff members.
• The number of passes per patients and the colour code for the passes to be kept in check and to be positively returned before leaving.
• At any given point not more than 2 relatives to be allowed inside hospital.
• Surprise inspections to be held to ensure that relatives remain close to patients and do not loiter around.
• Security cameras to be scanned to throw out suspicious people.
• Signboards to be put up all across the hospital.
• No exits to be allowed without returning the passes.
• Mischief mongers to not be allowed to enter the hospital again.
• Apart from all this, 600 armed guards to be recruited from the Maharashtra state security corporation. (300 within a week and 300 after a month)

CHIEF MINISTER DEVENDRA FADNAVIS’ APPEAL TO RESIDENT DOCTORS

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday appealed to the resident doctors in the state to call off their strike and assured them that the government would ensure their security in hospitals. The Bombay High Court too has asked the state to not undertake punitive action against the doctors if they resume work.

Even then, full-time medical teachers from Sion, JJ, KEM and Nair hospitals have joined the strike and have decided to continue it until they get written assurance.

“Our strike is on. MARD has not communicated anything to us. Earlier also we got verbal assurance but unless we get concrete assurance we will not end our strike,” said one doctor.

The agitation, meanwhile, has entered its fourth day today, and there is no indication of when the physicians will call off their protest.

 

Doctors attacked on duty will be given medical aid borne by government: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday said if a doctor is attacked on duty, he will be given medical aid borne by the government.

The Chief Minister directed to provide security to sensitive hospitals with armed policeman and work for a long-term plan like monitored CCTV network.

Fadnavis proposed setting up of an apex council with the government representatives and doctors and its interaction every  three months to solve the issues time to time.

The representatives of MARD met Fadnavis to discuss their issues.

Ministers Girish Mahajan, Dr Deepak Sawant, DGP Satish were also Mathur present.

Meanwhile, the Medical Teachers Association gave ultimatum of 48 hours, and said that they want their demands to be met otherwise they would go on mass resignation.

Fadnavis earlier in the day requested the resident doctors to withdraw their strike immediately and ensured them security.

“We will take strong legal action against those who attack doctors and will ensure security to the doctors,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court has ordered the doctors on strike to resume their duties and give some time to the government for providing them proper security.

The court also ordered the state government to provide security at all government hospitals so that the doctors can work without fear.

More than a thousand doctors in Maharashtra have been protesting since Monday, demanding better security at hospitals with the increase in incidents of attacks by patients’ relatives.