Mumbai: Resident doctors on strike at JJ Hospital; Several surgeries were postponed

Fed up with alleged harassment by senior doctors in the hospital's ophthalmology department, the resident doctors called for an indefinite strike from Wednesday evening, demanding their transfer. The impact of this strike was felt in the outpatient department on Thursday morning. In view of the resident doctors' strike, services were provided to the patients in the outpatient department through the department heads, senior professors, assistant professors, associate professors. However, as there was no resident doctor, queues of patients were waiting for treatment.

J.J. Head of Ophthalmology Department of the hospital Dr. Ragini Parekh and co-ordinator of cataract free Maharashtra Dr. Tatya Rao Lahane is violating National Medical Commission (NMC) rules and keeping resident doctors away from performing surgeries. Hence, the resident doctors of the hospital started an indefinite agitation from 5:00 pm on May 31 the resident doctors of the hospital started an indefinite agitation from 5:00 pm on May 31 for various demands such as their transfer, salary of first year resident doctors and dues of third year resident doctors.

The doctors of 'MARD' have decided that the strike will not be withdrawn until the demands are not accepted. That is why on Wednesday Dr. Tatya Rao Lana and even after seven doctors of Ophthalmology Department including Ragini Parekh announced voluntary retirement, it did not affect the striking resident doctors. As the resident doctors continued their strike on the second day as well, the patients coming to the hospital faced many hardships. 

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As there was no resident doctor in the outpatient department, the entire burden of patient care fell on the senior doctors and professors. Due to shortage of doctors, patient services were disrupted and patients had to stand in queues for hours. Many patients saw the crowd and went home. Also, many surgeries have been postponed and some urgent surgeries have been done. Head of Ophthalmology Department Dr. Ragini Parekh and Dr. Seven doctors including Tatya Rao Lahane had resigned.

Resignation application not in prescribed format

Resignations given by doctors in the Ophthalmology department are not as per the government prescribed pattern. Many doctors' resignation letters are not dated or have proper signatures, said Dr. Pallavi Saple.

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IMA’s support

Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network has announced support for the strike called by Mard doctors against the arbitrary administration of J.J. Head of Ophthalmology Department of the hospital Dr. Ragini Parekh and co-ordinator of cataract free Maharashtra Dr.Tatyarao Rao Lahne. The Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network has requested to secure the future of resident doctors by taking strict action against Dr. Lahne and Dr. Parekh.