40,000 GPs sympathise, down shutters

Mumbai: Mumbaikars were left harried on Thursday after nearly 40,000 general practitioners and doctors in the state who are affiliated to the Indian Medical Association (IMA) kept their dispensaries and clinics shut as a sign of solidarity with the plight of resident doctors in government and civic-run college hospitals. The resident doctors strike was called off late Thursday night.

The IMA has said that until the government gives an assurance and a written undertaking regarding increasing the security of resident doctors, its members will continue to keep their dispensaries shut. The association also said that it would open the doors of IMA houses in the city and across the state to accommodate resident doctors who may be expelled from various hostels for agitating.

Dr Mehul Bhatt, honorary secretary, IMA, Maharashtra, said, “General practitioners and private doctors are unaffected by the attacks suffered by resident doctors, however we had gone through a similar phase while we were RMOs too. Hence, as an act of solidarity all our members have shut their clinics and dispensaries, and they will continue to do so till the residents are given sufficient security.”

While admitting that keeping the clinics shut would cause untold hardships to the common man, Dr Bhatt said the people needed to realise that it is the politicians who are to be blamed for the situation.

“Politicians spend money trying to appease voters but do nothing about the security of doctors. Rather than attacking doctors, the people should attack politicians,” Dr Bhatt said.

The GPs’ sudden strike inconvenienced many citizens.

“I could not get treatment for his fever and nausea after I found that my physician’s clinic was shut,” said Pramod Gupta, a resident of Goregaon.

According to Dr Bhatt, though the resident doctors had a meeting with the chief minister, who assured them of taking proper security measures, the IMA will study the minutes of the meetings. “The strike will continue until we are satisfied,” he said.

Meanwhile, 1500 residents doctors from state- and civic-run hospitals were given expulsion notices on Thursday morning.