Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to Take Measures for the Safety of Resident Medical Officers

Mumbai : A comprehensive review of the safety of resident medical officers in Government Medical Colleges and Hospitals across the state is necessary. To address this, police officers should be appointed at the state level and in coordination with colleges in Mumbai city. Additionally, priority should be given to providing accommodation and hostels for resident medical officers. Chief Minister Eknath Shinde directed today that steps be taken to ensure these medical officers receive their tuition fees regularly.

A meeting was held at Varsha Government Residence under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Eknath Shinde to discuss the various demands of the Resident Medical Officers’ Association (MARD) and BMC-MARD, the association representing Medical Colleges of the Mumbai Municipal Corporation.

Following Chief Minister Shinde’s positive response to their demands, both unions announced that they would be withdrawing their ongoing strike. The presidents and representatives of both organizations stated that they would officially end the strike tomorrow by participating in a blood donation camp.

State Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik, Chief Minister’s Additional Chief Secretary Vikas Kharge, Mumbai Municipal Corporation Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani, State Director General of Police Rashmi Shukla, Medical Education Department Secretary Dinesh Waghmare, and Medical Education Department Commissioner Rajeev Nivatkar, among others, attended the meeting.

Chief Minister Shinde emphasized that resident medical officers play a crucial role in government college-affiliated hospitals. Considering the importance of their patient care duties, sensitive measures must be taken regarding their security and accommodation. “We expect high-quality work and service from them, so they should also be provided with appropriate facilities,” he said. The Home Department, Public Works Department, and other relevant agencies are expected to coordinate on this matter, with consistent oversight from the Chief Minister’s office.

Chief Minister Shinde directed that, regarding hostel availability, the Public Works Department and Mumbai Municipal Corporation should plan to rent buildings for this purpose. A review of hostel renovations should be conducted to ensure facilities like toilets, CCTV, and electricity are adequately provided. The security of the premises attached to Government Medical College-Hospitals in the state should also be reassessed. The police department should provide effective security training to guards recruited from various agencies. Senior police officers should be appointed as coordination officers to liaise with these organizations. Police station officers in Mumbai and other state areas should work closely with medical colleges to foster trust in the security system.

The meeting also resolved to establish a uniform operational system for the safety of medical officers statewide. This includes managing the crowd of relatives in hospitals, strictly adhering to appointment times, and displaying notices about legal consequences for assaults on medical officers and health workers. It was also informed that the Central Government is pursuing amendments to the 2010 Act concerning assaults on medical officers and implementing the Central Defense Act.

State MARD Association President Dr. Pratik Debaje, Secretary Dr. Aditi Kande, Vice President Dr. Akshay Nalable, Dr. Pranay Khedekar, Dr. Akshay Bodke, and Dr. Sampat Suryavanshi, along with BMC-MARD President Dr. Gaurav Naik, Vice President Dr. Mayur Wakode, Dr. Sudeep Dhakne, Dr. Akshay Dongardive, and others were present. They presented their demands and discussed them thoroughly.