Resident Doctors Threaten Strike Over Unmet Demands: BMC Hospitals on Alert

Resident doctors from Mumbai’s civic-run medical colleges are poised to strike starting July 22 if their demands, including a stipend increase and improved hostel accommodation, are not addressed promptly.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has issued a stern warning to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and medical colleges, highlighting critical issues that could disrupt hospital services. While emergency services will continue, outpatients might face disruptions due to the anticipated strike.

The BMC oversees four prominent medical institutions—KEM, Sion, Nair, and Cooper hospitals—where over 8,000 patients are attended to daily. The resident doctors, numbering around 2,500, are demanding several key improvements, with hostel accommodation emerging as a significant concern as a new batch of residents is expected in August 2024.

“A chronic shortage of hostel facilities is jeopardizing the welfare of current and incoming residents,” voiced a MARD representative. They pointed out that the failure to adjust Dearness Allowance from 412% to 427%, as per a November 23, 2023 Government Resolution, has worsened financial strains on resident doctors.

Moreover, disparities in stipend rates across peripheral BMC hospitals urgently require resolution. Junior doctors in these facilities currently receive approximately Rs. 70,000 per month, significantly less than their counterparts in private healthcare sectors. Achieving salary parity is crucial to retaining skilled medical professionals within public healthcare.

While discussions between BMC officials and MARD representatives are ongoing, no concrete resolution has been reached thus far. The impending strike underscores the critical need for swift action to address these grievances and ensure seamless healthcare delivery across Mumbai’s civic hospitals.