Maharashtra: Education Minister accepts MARD demands

Nagpur: The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has managed to get a positive response from the government on the issues faced by them at various Government Medical Colleges in the state. Dr Parag Narkhede, MARD General Secretary at Mumbai told TOI that they had a very successful meeting with the Medical Education Minister, Girish Mahajan, who was very positive about issues that faced them.

Following are the demands that have been raised by MARD:

• 700 days tuberculosis leave or maternity leave for the resident doctors


• Security issues related to the frequent attacks on residents


• Resident doctors to be released from duty ,as general medical officers, after 45 days of duty or senior resident doctors appointed immediately


• Confusion regarding free ship in post graduation removed immediately


• A grievance redress cell


• Students to be told about the recognition status of Institutes offering PG courses


• Bio metric System of Attendance issue


• Grants being accorded on time so that doctors get their stipends on time as well

Elaborating on the 700 days leave issue Dr. Narkhede said, "The Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS) should release a circular in this regard so that all colleges follow the rule universally."

Regarding security issues, the General Secretary, MARD was of the opinion that a committee headed by former Police Commissioner Dixit should organize a meeting with the Medical Education, Director, to resolve the issue of frequent attacks on resident doctors.

MARD demanded clear cut guidelines to remove the confusion between the medical education and social justice ministries on the issue of free ship for Post Graduation courses The minister consented to the demand and promised to clarify the confusion, at the earliest. The authorities involved in the issue have been asked to submit their clarifications.

With regard to free ship in post-graduation courses MARD demanded clear cut guidelines to remove the confusion between the medical education and social justice ministries. The minister agreed to the demand and promised to clarify the confusion at the earliest. The authorities involved in the issue have been asked to submit their clarifications.

MUHS has been asked to study the issue of bio metric attendance being opposed by MARD. Though MARD agrees to the Bio metric system of attendance in principle, it was of the view that a 24 hour punching system was impractical considering the long hours put in by doctors.. "The doctors who rush on emergency duties and stay there for over 12 hours don't remember to punch the cards and they don't even have time for doing so," he added.