Committee formed to address problems of Maha doctors: HC told

The committee has been formed following a public interest litigation filed in the High Court against resident doctors of BMC-run Sion hospital, who had threatened to go on strike over alleged high-handedness of the hostel warden.

A division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Nitin Jamdar had on Friday asked the government to state what mechanism it proposes to undertake to ensure doctors' problems are resolved.

Additional government pleader G W Mattos today told the court that Dr Sanjay Oak, Director (Medical) of the state government, has issued a letter to the additional municipal commissioner of the civic body directing for setting up of a committee with a grievances redressal cell comprising of six members.

"The resident doctors can henceforth approach this cell if they have any grievances," Mattos told the court.

Disposing of the PIL filed by a social worker Afak Mandaviya, the Chief Justice said, "We are satisfied that the civic body and government has taken the necessary remedial steps to resolve the controversy."

The court also asked the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) to not give any calls for strike henceforth and approach the committee with their grievances.

Although the resident doctors of Sion hospital had declared strike on August 10 and 11, it was called off.

Over 500 resident doctors of Sion Hospital, all of whom are members of MARD, had complained against hospital's hostel warden Rajesh Dere for his high-handedness and using abusive language against them.

Acting on the grievances, hospital dean Sandhya Kamat had formed a committee comprising four senior doctors to look into the issue. The committee, however, in its report absolved Dere of all charges. Aggrieved by this, the doctors declared to go on strike.