Student doctors call for strike

MUMBAI: 1 Nov 2007.

Faced with the threat of not getting a licence to practise despite years of study, student doctors around the state have decided to take on the government.

The 3,500-strong Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has called for a strike in all large public hospitals on Thursday to protest the de-recognition of departments in premier medical colleges among other things.

For patients, however, it's a bad time to be in public hospitals as this is the third doctors' agitation in a span of 10 days. It comes in close succession to last week's protests by medical teachers in government hospitals and resident doctors from suburban hospitals.

The MARD is protesting the de-recognition of departments in medical colleges and opposing the government's compulsory three-year bond for rural service after post-graduation.

"We, as doctors, have to register with the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) to practise. Until recently, MMC was giving registration to PG from government and corporation colleges irrespective of MCI recognition," said Dr Mahadev Bansode, president of MARD, adding that the MMC was now denying registration to candidates whose seats were not recognised creating "serious problems for many doctors".

The MCI has recently de-recognised several departments either for lack of teaching staff or inadequate infrastructure. These included community medicine in KEM, forensic medicine in Nair, pathology in Sion Hospital and psychiatry, radiology and skin in JJ Hospital.

"Around 220 PG medical seats, which is nearly 20% of total seats are de-recognised," said MARD members indicating the pathetic condition of PG medical education in the state. Director of medical education and research, Dr Tayade said, "We are in discussions with the MCI so that they do not de-recognise the degree.

" Another issue MARD has raised is the compulsory rural service bond asked for by the government. The bond does not address their concerns, they said.

They had recommended a one-year bond instead of 5 years and that students should be posted where there is infrastructure for their speciality.

The government has only stated that candidates will have to give a bond of Rs 15 lakh to serve for three years.

By Shamsheer (TofI)