4000 resident docs in Mah strike work over colleague's assault

Nearly 4,000 resident doctors in Maharashtra today went on an indefinite strike demanding suspension of three policemen from Solapur who allegedly attacked their colleague there on December 31.

The doctors are demanding suspension of the trio and also that they be booked under the Doctors Protection Act of 2008 and their offence be made cognisable and non-bailable.

"There is CCTV footage to show that the policemen assaulted the resident doctor. Apart from a FIR, no action has been taken so far," Dr Harshal Panshewdikar, General Secretary of central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) said.

The resident doctors are alleging that the three policemen who were at the Solapur government medical hospital forced a doctor who was already busy with a emergency case to attend to a pregnant woman who was in labour.

"The doctor said the female patient be taken to the gynaecology ward but the police beat up the doctor," he said.

Senior doctors and other medical officers have supported the MARD demand and assured them that they will ensure medical services are not affected, Dr Panshewdikar said.

He said the resident doctors association has not received any communication from the government regarding their demand.