Striking docs may get the stick today

PUNE, Dec 1: Resident doctors on indefinite strike at the Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, have announced their refusal to obey State di...

PUNE, Dec 1: Resident doctors on indefinite strike at the Sassoon General Hospital in Pune, have announced their refusal to obey State directives to join duties by 8 am on Thursday, despite prolonged appeals from officials to consider the distinct possibility of rustication as “disciplinary action.”

“None of the members of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), Pune, will join duties on Thursday, and we are prepared to face any of the possible consequences, including rustication,” said Dr Rakesh Neve, joint-secretary, MARD, Pune.

The decision of MARD was conveyed in writing to Dr Mrudula Phadke, dean, B J Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital this afternoon, said Dr Neve.

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But deputy dean Dr P M Bulakh maintained, “We have received no communication from MARD yet. We will wait till 8 am, and implement the directives from the government.”

The heads of all departments of the College, and senior professors have been asked to make efforts to convince the doctors to withdraw the strike, said Dr Bulakh.

However, around 60 post-graduate resident doctors appearing for the final-year post-graduate examinations on December 22 are inclined to report for duty on Thursday, said Dr B A Kadam, medical superintendent, after discussions with them.

“These students are aware that they may lose up to six months if the examinations are indefinitely postponed,” said Dr Kadam. “We are already receiving inquiries from the University of Pune about the arrangements for the examinations,” he said. A minimum of two external examiners per department are necessary to conduct the practicals, but leaves of all the lecturers have been cancelled during the strike.

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While the hospital had received no further communication from the State spelling out the disciplinary action, the resident doctors have expressed fears that students might not be permitted to appear for the post-graduate examinations, that the hall-tickets will be denied to them, or their dissertation certificates withheld.

“The State’s order has caused intense mental torture to these students, who were earlier in two minds,” said Dr Neve, but he dismissed any suggestion of fissures in the MARD, Pune. “The students have realised that it is our organisation and our unity that is more important,” he said.

All the 300 doctors will conduct a silent march in the Laxmi Road area on Thursday evening, which they claim is their largest patient base, to spread awareness about the MARD and their reasons for going on strike.

“They are our students. They should listen to the government and co-operate with us,” Dr Bulakh said repeatedly. Meanwhile a board put up by the MARD at Sassoon “apologises for any inconvenience to the patients,” and the strike goes on.