350 doctors from Nagpur suspended for strike

Mumbai: Around 350 resident doctors of the state-run Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Nagpur were suspended on Wednesday for bunking work since five days. On Tuesday, the state medical education minister Girish Mahajan had warned the resident doctors, saying they should resume duty within two days or would have to face suspension.

The resident doctors bunked work from Saturday, demanding enhanced security at the hospital. The striking resident doctors of GMCH claimed that hey are functioning without security guards for the last 25 days.

Tension erupted at the GMCH when the body of a murdered woman was found lying in the bushes adjacent to the hospital’s ward on Saturday morning. The body was naked. It is suspected that the woman was murdered somewhere else and her body was dumped inside the GMCH premises. This led to a feeling of insecurity among the resident doctors. Last year, there were several incidents of assaults on state doctors across the state.

Dr Pradeep Kaswan , president of the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD), GMCH Nagpur said, “We need security guards at GMCH for our safety. That is our major demand. We have been given suspension letters but we are having meetings with Mr Mahajan and directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). We want everything in writing or else will be continue with our strike,” he said.

Mr Mahajan said that the Maharshtra Security Force (MSF) guards went on a strike 20 days ago. “That thing sparked tension and the resident medicos went on strike without intimation. We have already arranged private security guards but these doctors don’t want them.” the minister said.

GMCH dean Dr Abhimanyu Niswade claimed that 25 guards have been appointed at the hospital.