No headway in talks, medical interns dig in their heels

Updated on: Friday, May 06, 2011

The government has decided to come down heavily on the striking medical interns, after both parties failed to reach a consensus following four days of strike. On the other hand, the interns have also refused to back down from their demand for increasing the stipend amount to Rs 13,000 from Rs 2,550.

Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director of Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER), said the government was contemplating expelling the interns, curtailing their internship period and even freezing their stipend pay. “We are thinking of curtailing their internship in which case they have to repeat a year as the months they have served as interns will be rendered null and void,” he added.

The DMER and the medical education department have made it clear that they are firm on not holding any further discussions with the students till they call off the hunger strike. “All the respective colleges have been instructed to send letters to their students threatening action,” added Shingare.

Sources from the Mantralaya told TOI that the government was toying with the idea of increasing the stipend amount by 100% making it Rs 5,000.

Meanwhile, the Kamgar Maidan where interns are on a hunger strike since Monday, saw much drama on Thursday morning. As some tried to stop the police from ferrying ailing fellow interns, three interns were detained at the Bhoiwada police station.

Vikram Patil, senior inspector of Bhoiwada police station, said the police were forced to detain students after they tried to pull a stretcher from policeman and stopped the entry of the ambulance. “Such activities endangered the life of students. The detained students will be released later,” he said.

On day four of the strike, 13 more interns were admitted to KEM Hospital. One of them, Mangesh Jadhav from Solapur, had to be admitted to the ICU.

Another student, Prerna More, had to be admitted to hospital after she complained of nausea. “After fasting for three days, I started vomiting and was feeling nauseous all the time,” said More adding that she already had gastroenteritis.

Around 20 students, who were participating in the hunger strike, were admitted to KEM Hospital till Thursday evening.

Milind Mhaiskar, secretary of medical education said the strike was not completely legal. “We have put our points forward. It is not possible to sit and discuss with them everyday,” he added.

Times View

The interns may not be entirely wrong in asking for a hike to cover inflation which is, undeniably, a problem, especially in Mumbai where the cost of living is high; the government needs to consider this. But the interns need to ask themselves whether they have the right to jeopardise the public health system and medical services. Not many of them actually end up joining state-run hospitals or serving in rural areas. Students need to know that striking work should always be used as the last option.

No headway in talks, medical interns dig in their heels

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