Medical intern strike illegal, say cops as seven detained on Day 4

Updated on: Friday, May 06, 2011

Seven of the 500 medical interns, who were observing a hunger strike for the fourth day at Kamgar Maidan, Parel, were detained on Thursday when they prevented police from taking few of their colleagues who fell ill to hospital.

A senior officer from Bhoiwada Police Station said, “They were trying to prevent us from taking a few interns to hospital. As the interns had not given any notice to the government before going on strike, it becomes an illegal act.”

The interns, from 18 medical colleges across the state, are demanding their stipend be hiked from Rs 2,550 to Rs13,000.

On their part, the government says that the interns are continuing despite officials giving them enough audience. “The Deputy CM and the medical education minister heard all their issues. Such things cannot be worked out in a day,” said Milind Mhaiskar, secretary, medical education.

However, the interns are in no mood to relent. “They should at least give us something in writing,” said Dhawal Shah, Mumbai co-ordinator of Association of State Medical Interns.

On Thursday, two interns had to be admitted to ICU after their conditions worsened. With this, the number of interns admitted to hospital has gone up to 19. Meanwhile, the government instructed deans of all medical colleges to issue warning letters to the interns. “The letters will state that if they do not withdraw the strike on Friday, their internship will be cancelled,” said Dr Pravin Shingare, joint director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research.

Medical intern strike illegal, say cops as seven detained on Day 4

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