Mumbai: In order to disallow the doctors, resident doctors, nurses and the staff of the government medical colleges from going on strike, the Maharashtra government has considered imposing the Maharashtra Essential Services Maintainance (MESMA) Act on government-run hospitals. However, the decision of the state government has not gone well with the resident doctors in Maharashtra. Maharashtra association of resident doctors (MARD) has opposed the medical education ministry’s proposal on MESMA.
The medicos together has lamented that the government is trying to muffle the voice of the doctors by applying MESMA on them. Dr Lokeshkumar Chitwadkar, president of MARD said, “Before implementing MESMA on us, the state should probe into the aspect of why we need to strike.”
While the resident and the intern doctors union are opposing the move. They have received support from the resident doctors union of the All India Institute of the Medical Sciences.
“If the doctors are going on strike for their personal interests, then the government should take subsequent action. But, rather than finding the real rationale, the government is trying to muffle our voice,” Mr Chitwadkar added
Dr Chitwadkar further said, “ Since last four months we are trying to meet the medical education minister to put forth our demands. The government is not ready to pay attention to our demands, but want to slap anti-strike law, we will oppose this.”
The Intern doctors from Maharashtra, have also extended their support on Anti – MESMA. Dr Gokul Rakh, secretary of the Intern doctors Association said, “If the government slaps MESMA, we can’t call for a strike. The government has deaf ears on us. We will oppose the move. Our sincere demands are the government should provide adequate security, good infrastructures, stipend, etc. then why we will go on strike”
