A delegation representing resident doctors from across Maharashtra met with a top state government official last week, presenting a stark picture of the challenges they face daily. The Central Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (Central MARD) held discussions with Dhiraj Kumar, the Principal Secretary of Medical Education for the state, urging immediate action on a host of systemic issues.
Statewide Survey Reveals Deep-Rooted Problems
During the crucial meeting, Central MARD officials submitted findings from a recent statewide survey. This data brought to light several persistent problems plaguing government medical colleges and hospitals. The key concerns highlighted included consistent delays in the disbursement of stipends, inadequate security measures for doctors, poor hostel infrastructure, and generally adverse working conditions. These issues, the delegation argued, directly impact the well-being and efficiency of the crucial healthcare workforce.
Assurances and Immediate Action Points
Taking serious note of the grievances, Principal Secretary Dhiraj Kumar provided several assurances. He promised that an online meeting involving Central MARD and the deans of all medical colleges in Maharashtra would be convened at the earliest. The objective of this meeting is to discuss the issues in detail and work towards developing systematic, long-term solutions.
The delegation specifically drew attention to the serious grievances faced by resident doctors at the Maharashtra Institute of Medical Education and Research (MGMER) and Government Medical College (GMC) in Nashik. Here again, stipend-related issues, security lapses, and substandard hostel facilities were major pain points. Kumar assured that this matter would be escalated to the Vice-Chancellor of the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) and that proper steps would be initiated for early redressal.
Addressing Specific Departmental Complaints
The meeting also served as a platform to address complaints from specific departments. Issues raised by resident doctors from the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology (FMT) Department of Indira Gandhi Government Medical College (IGGMC) in Nagpur were discussed. The principal secretary informed the delegation that the transfer of the concerned FMT faculty member had already been completed. He categorically stated that no harm or victimisation of the complainant resident doctors would be tolerated.
Furthermore, complaints from the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OBGY) Department of JJ Hospital in Mumbai were taken up. Regarding this matter, Kumar stated that the issue is currently under investigation and a committee is being constituted to look into it.
Focus on Long-Pending Stipend Issues
A significant portion of the discussion was dedicated to the long-pending stipend issues concerning the 2022 batch of resident doctors. This has been a source of considerable frustration for the affected doctors. Principal Secretary Kumar assured Central MARD that a dedicated meeting would be convened specifically to resolve this matter. He also pledged that corrective measures would be put in place to prevent the recurrence of such stipend delays in the future.
The meeting marks a significant step by resident doctors' bodies to formally escalate their chronic issues to the highest levels of the state's medical education administration. The promised follow-up actions, particularly the proposed state-wide meeting with college deans, will be closely watched by the medical community for tangible results.
