Mumbai: JJ medics call off strike as top doctors quit

Resident doctors at JJ hospital on Sunday called off their strike a day after the government accepted the resignation of the facility's former dean, Dr T P Lahane, and Dr Ragini Parekh, head of the ophthalmology department. The doctors went on strike on May 31, alleging that the department was being run in a dictatorial manner.

They had been unwavering in their demand that Dr Lahane and Dr Parekh be transferred. Meanwhile, the HOD and ex-dean tendered their resignation, along with seven other doctors, including honorary ones. In the wake of allegations, investigations and explanations, the row finally came to an end with the Maharashtra education and drug department (MEDD) accepting the voluntary resignation request of Dr Parekh and the resignation of Dr Lahane.

Protesting doctors at JJ hospital on June 1. Pic/Shadab Khan

Though the honorary doctors, who had tendered their resignations, are relieved of their duties, some resident doctors continued their strike on Saturday as a few of their demands are still pending. In the past four days, around 100 non-emergency surgeries were postponed due to the strike. Also, the number of out-patient department (OPD) patients was lower than usual due to strikes. Finally, on Sunday morning resident doctors of JJ called off their strike and resumed work.

The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) issued a statement that read, "We, the representatives of MARD, would like to draw attention to the issues of JJ, ophthalmology: pending arrears and stipend. The concerns and problems of JJ Hospital's ophthalmology department are not novel. For the previous 25 years, the resident doctors in this department have suffered from a lack of surgical capabilities. The resident doctors who had come to learn surgery were learning everything except surgery (sic)."

Dr T P Lahane at a press conference on June 2. Pic/Pradeep Dhivar

Stating that Dr Lahane's contribution to the field of ophthalmology was undeniably substantial, the statement read, "The issue of resident doctor educational loss is quite serious. This dictatorship has bothered resident doctors for the past twenty-five years. Today, we would like to thank the Maharashtra government and the Minister of Medical Education, Girish Mahajan, for listening to our worries and frustrations. The minister has asked the secretariat to take urgent action on our remaining two problems, which are pending arrears and the stipend. MARD JJH is calling off the strike as most of our complaints have been addressed."

Meanwhile, Dr Ravi Chauhan, head of the ophthalmology department at Indira Gandhi Government Medical College, Nagpur, has been given an additional charge of HOD of ophthalmology at JJ hospital.

31 May
Day protest began

100
No of surgeries postponed

3 June
Day resignations were accepted